Reading West MP Martin Salter returned to the battle against a third runway at Heathrow during Transport Questions today in the Commons.

Mr Salter welcomed the interventions by former cabinet Minister Chris Smith who is now Chairman of the Environment Agency.

In a question to the Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon Mr Salter said:

“How does the Secretary of State answer the charge from the noble Lord Smith that it will be impossible to meet legally binding air quality targets if the government goes ahead with the building of a third runway at Heathrow airport?”

This follows a heated debate in Parliament 2 weeks ago where MPs of all parties lined up to oppose the third runway.

Building a third runway at Heathrow would make it ‘impossible’ to meet legally binding targets on air pollution, the head of the Environment Agency watchdog warned on Monday.

Chris Smith is gave a speech which heaped more pressure on ministers not to approve expansion plans. Lord Smith, a former Labour culture secretary, told his agency’s annual conference:

“The Government has committed itself to rigorous targets to reduce CO2 emissions 80 per cent by 2050, which now include aviation and shipping. It is impossible to see how they would be achieved if the current plans for a third runway go ahead.”

Lord Smith said the evidence was weighted against expansion.

 “I hope very much that the government will not go ahead with the third runway at Heathrow. All the studies we’ve done in the Environment Agency of the likely impact of air quality on west London are very detrimental. If the third runway goes ahead, if we get that extra both air and ground traffic that will arise out of that, then it is absolutely certain that nitrogen dioxide levels will go way beyond what they ought to be for the sake of human health.”

A spokesman for the Department of Health (DfT) said:

“The government has always been clear that expansion at Heathrow could not go ahead unless strict local environmental conditions could be met.”

Speaking afterwards Mr Salter added:

“As more and more high profile figures like Chris Smith weigh in against Heathrow expansion our cross-party campaign gathers strength. I detect a change in emphasis in the ministerial responses in recent weeks with a greater acknowledgement being made of the need to meet air quality, noise and pollution targets before a third runway is approved. Since this is patently impossible it is difficult to see how Ministers can give the go-ahead next month.”