SIR – I think that Keith Thomson (Envirowatch and campaigner for green issues) will like in a large way what I am going to write.

China announced on Wednesday that ten billion yuan (£1 billion) has been set aside this year to reward cities and regions that tackle air pollution.

The state council said it will reward action rather than offer subsidies. It said controlling pollutants such as particulate matter in the air should be a key task. On the agenda are getting a handle on coal use, promoting high-quality fuel for vehicles, saving energy in construction and using environmentally-friendly boilers.

Separately, the Xinhua news agency reported Beijing City government will shut down 300 polluting factories this year and eventually phase out some industries to improve the city’s air energy and pollution intensive projects such as steel and cement are not to be approved on principle it said.

Max Hey, Fairway Grove, Bradford