Key information
Request reference number: MGLA030223-9046
Date of response:
Summary of request
Our response
Please find our answers to each question, in turn, below:
- The statistics of how many people in the Greater London boroughs have died directly due to dirty London air. And if more than the Office of National Statistics (ONS) statistic of 1, please give an explanation as to why the ONS has the wrong statistic.
The GLA has commissioned research to estimate the health burden of air pollution in London. In 2021, the GLA commissioned research from the Environmental Research Group at Imperial College London to quantify the health burden of air pollution. In 2019, in Greater London, 61,800 to 70,200 life years lost (the equivalent of between 3,600 to 4,100 attributable deaths) were estimated to be attributable to anthropogenic fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
- What exactly is the predicted air quality gain per Greater London borough with ULEZ and how were these figures estimated?
The most relevant documents are the ‘London-wide ULEZ Integrated Impact Assessment (ULEZ Scheme IIA)’ and ‘Our proposals to help improve air quality tackle the climate emergency and reduce congestion by expanding the ULEZ London-wide and other measures’.
- Why, when a previous FOI request has gathered evidence that 66% opposed ULEZ in the most recent TFL consultation, the London mayor has pushed ahead with the charge anyway?
The Mayor’s response to the consultation has been raised at Mayor’s Question Time.
There are several further questions relating to this subject matter, with answers published on the GLA website. (Search, keyword 'ULEZ' and filter by date 1 December 2022 to date).
- Why cars with registered blue badges are not exempt from the charge when this will affect an estimated 30,000 of the most vulnerable people in and around Greater London?
Following feedback from stakeholders and the public, the Mayor has introduced two new grace periods for disabled people and wheelchair accessible vehicles.
Under the new disabled benefits grace period, a time limited exemption from the charge is
available for recipients of both the standard and enhanced rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payment and certain other specific state benefits, as well as people who do not receive benefits but have a terminal illness, are registered blind or severely sight impaired, or have children under three with a medical condition that means they need bulky equipment and/or need to be near a vehicle.
The new wheelchair accessible vehicles grace period provides a time limited exemption for all wheelchair accessible vehicles and some vehicles with other adaptations.
Using disability benefits was considered to offer the fairest and most consistent approach to eligibility. The new disabled benefits grace period means that anyone who is automatically eligible for a Blue Badge via their benefits will qualify for the new grace period.
Based on data from the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Transport, more Londoners currently claim benefits that would make them eligible for the new grace period than currently hold a Blue Badge.
- Why, if NOx and PM2.5 particulates are so bad for health, are the EURO4 and EURO6 standards not the standard for MOT emissions tests? If vehicles pass their emissions tests for UK roads this should include all UK roads.
Emissions of NOx and PM2.5 are regulated by the Euro standards, which require vehicle
engines to be designed to meet emission limits for these pollutants. Although still referred to as the Euro standards, the engine standards used to assess compliance with the ULEZ were adopted into UK law prior to Brexit and have been retained as part of the withdrawal
agreement.
Compliance with these limits is precisely tested and measured before engines can be put on the market in the UK.
In contrast, the MOT test is an indicator of the general health of the engine and emissions
control system and does not give precise measurements of the emissions performance of a vehicle or measure NOx or PM emissions.
- Why the London Assembly is allowed to steamroller the boroughs that are opposed to ULEZ and install unwanted cameras.
The decision to implement or change any road user charging scheme in London sits with the Mayor of London, not the London Assembly.
The ‘Legal comments’ section sets out the legal considerations for the decision.
TfL, not the London Assembly, is the Charging Authority for the ULEZ road user charging scheme, and so is responsible for its operation and enforcement.
As the Charging Authority, it is for TfL to design and implement the expansion of the ULEZ across all London boroughs, and it is responsible for its London-wide operation and enforcement thereafter.
This sets out the process for TfL and the boroughs to agree the installation of cameras and signs and the legal powers held by TfL in this matter.
- What is the threshold for air quality gain that made the London Assembly know that implementing ULEZ would be the right thing to do to improve air quality over other better options that don't give TfL a revenue boost while still allowing polluting cars to pollute?
The Mayor made the decision to expand the ULEZ London-wide after considering the
responses to the public consultation and other relevant matters, taking into account that the majority of respondents said there was a need to go further to tackle poor air quality (see Mayoral Decision 3060).
The full consultation report (which includes an analysis of the responses received and themes raised), the independent Integrated Impact Assessment (which assessed potential health, environment, equality, and economic impacts of the scheme consultation proposals on different groups), and other supporting documents are published as appendices to the decision
- When so many are especially opposed to this charge now because of the cost of living crisis, why is the Mayor not listening to the working class who will be most affected by this? Will the Mayor take direct responsibility for suicide rates inevitably increasing when the ULEZ charge is the last financial straw that breaks them?
TfL listened and consulted widely during this process and the Mayor has made changes and improvements based on feedback from Londoners and the organisations that represent them.
As a result of stakeholder feedback and themes raised in the consultation period, the Mayor made a number of changes to the proposals, including extending existing grace periods, introducing new grace periods and funding a new scrappage scheme.
The Mayor is providing a £110m scrappage scheme to help Londoners in receipt of certain low income and disability benefits, sole traders, businesses with up to 10 employees and charities.
Unfortunately the Mayor is using limited funding to provide a scheme that should be funded at a national level. The Government has provided scrappage funding in other cities, including Birmingham, Bristol and Portsmouth, but has not extended the same support for London. This is despite Londoners paying around £500m of Vehicle Excise Duty each year into these pots.
Eligibility for the scrappage scheme has been set to ensure help is targeted at those who need it most. For the first time, there is a new retrofit grant for charities and businesses and a new option for Londoners to receive a higher value package by choosing up to two annual bus and tram passes alongside a cash grant.
TfL has also worked with businesses to provide a range of third party offers for services such as car clubs and cycle subscriptions to support Londoners to switch to cleaner forms of transport.
More broadly, in April 2021 the Mayor of London launched the Cost of Living Hub to help
Londoners navigate the cost of living crisis. The hub provides information and links to a wide range of advice and support available to Londoners including help to claim benefits or deal with debt, ways to lower energy bills, and where to access mental health support.
You can access the Cost of Living Hub here.
If you have any further questions relating to this matter, please contact us, quoting
reference MGLA030223-9046.