Sir – Particulate airborne pollutants from vehicles and open wood or coal fires etc kill around 50,000 people a year in the United Kingdom and more than two million people worldwide.

As I have written previously, Ed Miliband`s 2008 Climate Change Act may have resulted in an increase of particulate induced deaths due to incentives for diesel vehicles.

The closure of our coal-fired power stations was another strategic public health error as their emissions were mostly steam, and particulate-free. The new incentive to burn wood in fireplaces also greatly increases airborne particulate pollution and is best left to heat rural dwellings rather than close-knit city areas.

In Wales, we have the best coal in the world and many proud miners who would rather use their proud skills than languish on the scrapheap.

So far not a single politician has stood up for the mining industry since the closure of the mines in the 1980s, even though the miners’ unions were once very powerful.

Until now that is. I was absolutely thrilled to hear Jeremy Corbyn praise our wonderful reserves of Welsh coal and voice his support for the miners.

Coal may seem dirty but when it is used in coal power stations all particulate pollutants are removed by scrubbers. Coal is only harmful to health when burnt in open hearth fires. Yes we do need to explore many alternative forms of renewable energy such as wind and solar.

However it is foolish for this Government to waste £24bn on constructing new nuclear plants such as Hinkley that will cause a meteoric rise in energy bills to pay for its construction, when we have 1,000 years worth of free coal here.

Therefore I feel that Jeremy Corbyn`s support for the coal industry has the potential to save the UK billions if he does indeed revive the mining industry.

Susan Thomas
Oxford