Archived press release
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QUEEN'S SPEECH IGNORES IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION
23 October 1996
Uta Bellion, Campaigns Director at Friends of the Earth, said:
"We are flabbergasted that the Government has payed so little regard to the environment in the run up to the general election. The elected representatives of the people approved the Wildlife Bill during the last parliamentary session, the Government should take note and turn this important Bill into law as soon as possible"
Uta Bellion continued:
"People are sick and tired of more roads and more traffic. How many more people must die before the Government takes effective action to reduce the amount of traffic on our roads. The Road Traffic Reduction Bill would go a long way to addressing the problems many people face."
Notes
[1] The Wildlife Bill was introduced as a Private Members Bill by Conservative MP James Couchman in the last session of Parliament. The Bill had Government support, and successfully passed through all its stages in the Commons. However, it fell because of lack of time in the Lords. The Wildlife Bill would strengthen protection of Sites of Special Scientific Interest(SSSI's), the UK's best wildlife habitats.
The Road Traffic Reduction Bill would set traffic reduction targets and would oblige the Secretary of State to draw up policies to reduce traffic levels by 10 per cent by 2010. Councils would also have to draw up plans to reduce traffic locally. The Bill has the support of 220 MP's from all parties.
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Sep 2008
