Miliband prepared to break pollution laws over Heathrow

CLIMATE Change Secretary Ed Miliband today refused to rule out turning a blind eye to air quality laws to give the go-ahead for a third runway at Heathrow.

Experts believe that nitrogen dioxide levels will be exceeded for years to come around Heathrow if it is allowed to grow. They would breach new EU limits due to come into force by 2015 at the latest.

But Mr Miliband, when asked to give a guarantee that the Government would not ignore minor breaches of air quality laws to allow another runway, stopped short of giving such a pledge.

Speaking at an Environment Agency conference in central London, he simply stressed the importance of putting a price on carbon emissions from aviation, which is to be included in the European carbon emissions trading scheme, and added: "We will take the issues of air quality absolutely seriously when we make our decision about a third runway."

But EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas has warned that the Government must respect new EU limits on pollution.

Backbench Labour MPs who are opposed to the expansion plans said the new EU laws were "non-negotiable". John Grogan MP, who has led a Commons rebellion with Cabinet support over a third runway, said: "If ministers are not careful, they will find themselves in court." Yesterday former Cabinet minister Lord Smith, now chairman of the Environment Agency, warned that a third runway at Heathrow would make it "impossible" for the Government to meet legally binding targets on air pollution.

Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said of Mr Miliband's remarks: "This is further evidence that the Government is determined to press ahead with a third runway at Heathrow regardless of the consequences for the environment, health and quality of life."

Aviation chiefs have argued that a third runway is needed to cope with the spiralling demand for air travel. It would increase Heathrow's capacity from 480,000 flights a year to more than 700,000.

The EU Air Quality Directive sets limits for air pollutants, including a level for NO2 of 40 micrograms/m³ which is to be achieved by 1 January 2010. Britain can seek an extension to meet this pollution law but only until 1January 2015.