What we stand for

We want to see a world where everyone can breathe clean air with healthy lungs. To achieve this, we need the right policies in place from the government, the NHS and other health care bodies. 

We know that lung disease and the factors that cause it don’t always get the attention they deserve. We work with policy makers and politicians in Westminster, Scotland, Wales and in local government to change this. 

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Our policy stories

Read stories about our campaigns across the UK, from air pollution to better treatment to smoking. 

Read our policy stories

Our reports

The health and economic impacts of toxic air in Liverpool City Region reveals that up to 1,040 deaths per year in Liverpool can be directly linked to exposure to air pollution.

Toxic air at the door of the NHS reveals that millions of patients and healthcare practitioners across the UK are exposed to unsafe levels of pollution.

Less help to quit - what's happening to stop smoking prescriptions across Britain (2018) highlights how every year fewer patients are being given treatments to help them quit smoking.

The battle for breath - the impact of lung disease in the UK (2016) examines the overall extent and impact of lung disease across the UK. 

The battle for breath - the economic burden of lung disease (2017) reveals the financial cost of lung disease to the NHS, patients and the economy.

A map for better care (2017) looks at ways to improve access to care for people with interstitial lung disease (ILD). 

The economic costs of lung disease and the cost effectiveness of policy and service interventions (2017) (PDF, 1MB). A literature review on the costs of different lung diseases and the cost effectiveness of policy and service interventions.

Our position on key policy areas
 

• Policy on tobacco control, smoking and e-cigarettes, January 2019 (PDF, 1.6MB)
  
  Summary of our position on tobacco, smoking and e-cigarettes and our key policy asks. 


• Our policy position statement on the flu jab, Dec 2018 (PDF 244KB)
  
  Our recommendations on flu vaccination.


• Policy position statement on Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) – 2018 (PDF, 4.8MB)
  
  Our 4 central policy asks for IPF.
   
• Policy position statement on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (PDF, 315KB)
  
  A summary of evidence and our key recommendations for COPD.
   
• Policy position statement on outdoor air quality (PDF, 250KB)
  
  This is where we stand on outdoor air quality.
   

  Policy documents

• Environment bill 2nd reading: air pollution and health. BLF policy briefing (PDF, 298KB) 
  
  The second reading of the Environment Bill in the House of Commons. It's a crucial opportunity for MPs to shine a light on the devastating impacts air pollution has on all of us, and particularly people living with a lung condition like asthma or COPD.
   
• BLF response to government's green paper on prevention, October 2019 (PDF, 275KB)
  
  We responded to the government's prevention strategy highlighting support for a polluter pays charge on the tobacco industry and for more action on air pollution.
   
• BLF response to Department of Health and Social Care consultation on the impact of tobacco laws, September 2019 (PDF, 387 KB)
  
  We responsed to the DHSC consultation outlining the success of tobacco control legislation. 
   
• BLF response to the NICE consultation on draft quality standards for flu vaccination, September 2019 (PDF, 132 KB)
  
  We responded to the draft quality standards on improving flu vaccination rates. 
   
• BLF written submission to the Health and Social Care Committee inquiry on the Budget and NHS Long Term Plan (PDF, 154 KB)
  
  Our response focused on investment in stop smoking services, a public health campaign for air pollution and workforce requirements.
   
• BLF response to Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan proposals, August 2019 (PDF, 175KB)
  
  Our response to the clean air proposals put forward by Greater Manchester.
   
• Joint parliamentary briefing on the Environment Bill and air pollution standards (PDF, 856KB)
  
  Our joint briefing on the Environment Bill with a number of other health charities.


• BLF response to Birmingham City Council Clean Air Strategy consultation, April 2019 (PDF, 109 KB)
  
  Our response to Birmingham council’s plans to reduce air pollution.


• BLF response to initial NICE Quality Standard scoping consultation on flu, April 2019 (PDF, 215 KB)
  
  We responded to the NIICE consultation on improving uptake of flu vaccination. 
   
• Response to NHS England Specialised Commissioning consultation on lung volume reduction, March 2019 (PDF, 86 KB)
  
  Our response supports expanding access to lung volume reduction procedures.
  
   
• Our response to UK Government proposals to improve air quality through regulating the burning of solid fuels in domestic burning (PDF, 220KB) 
   
• Healthy Air Cymru response to Welsh Government proposals for a Clean Air Zone Framework for Wales – HAC CAZF responses (PDF, 48KB)
• BLF Wales response to Welsh Government proposals on new smoking regulations  (PDF, 146KB)
   
• BLF Wales response to Welsh Government Planning Policy Wales: Edition 10 - 2018 (PDF, 170KB)
   
• Healthy Air Cymru response to Welsh Government proposals to tackle roadside NOx emissions – HAC NOx consultation response (PDF, 350KB)
   
• BLF response to the UK Government’s call for evidence on domestic burning - 2018 (Doc, 35KB)
  
  Our DEFRA residential burning response.
• Response to the RCGP consultation (PDF, 123KB)
  We consulted on a new and updated version of the RCGP Curriculum, which describes the attitudes, skills and expertise required to become a competent General Practitioner in the UK National Health Service
• Response to NHS England review of Quality and Outcomes Framework (PDF, 108KB)
  
  We would like to see the proportion of patients with COPD referred to a pulmonary rehabilitation programme included as an indicator. 
   
• Response to the organ donation consultation (PDF, 92.6kb)
  
  We responded saying we are positive towards the opt-out system as believe it will encourage more people to discuss their wishes regarding organ donation and increase the number of lung transplants. 
   
• Response to the TfL consultation on proposed changes to the Ultra low emission zone and Low emission zone (PDF, 260KB)
• Response to the APPG for healthy homes and buildings green paper (PDF, 220KB)
  We recently responded to the All-party parliamentary group for healthy homes and buildings’ green paper building our future: laying the foundations for healthy homes and buildings
• Response to NICE consultation on smoking cessation interventions and services guidelines (PDF, 174KB)
  We made a submission to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) consultation on proposed update to the smoking cessation interventions and services guidelines

• Representation for the Autumn Budget 2017 (PDF, 140KB)
  
  We made a submission to the HM Treasury on the 2017 Autumn Budget

• BLF Scotland response to Building Scotland's Low Emission Zones (PDF, 171KB)
  
  This is our view on low emission zones in Scotland

• Response to the joint inquiry into air pollution (PDF, 160KB)
  
  We outline our view that a combination of ambitious measures are required to make the air in our towns and cities safer to breathe

• Response to 3rd phase of Mayor of London's air quality consultation (PDF, 254KB)
  
  Our response covers the health effects of air pollution, our strong support for a wider and smarter Ultra-Low Emission Zone by 2019 and more.

• Response to the government's draft UK air quality plan (PDF, 297KB)
  
  We responded to DEFRA's draft UK air quality plan and outlined our view that this plan needs to go further

• Representation for the 2017 Spring Budget (PDF, 187KB) 
  
  We made a submission to the HM Treasury call for evidence on the 2017 Spring Budget, recommending policy changes to tackle air pollution.
   
• Response to NICE consultation on patient and public involvement (PDF, 174KB)
  
  We responded to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) consultation on improving how patients and the public can help develop NICE guidance and standards.
   
• Response to BTS consultation on home oxygen quality standards (PDF, 390KB)
  
  Our response to the British Thoracic Society (BTS) consultation on new quality standards for prescribing home oxygen for patients with lung conditions.
   
• Response to NICE consultation on outdoor air quality and health
  
  How we responded to the consultation from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) on their new guidelines for local authorities on tackling air pollution.
   
• Policy briefing on health inequalities (PDF, 256KB)
  
  We produced a policy briefing on lung disease and health inequalities.
   
• Response to the Welsh Government consultation on Local Air Quality and Noise Management (PDF, 256KB)
  
  In Wales, we made a submission to the Welsh Government consultation on Local Air Quality and Noise Management in Wales.
   
• Response to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee inquiry on the Public Health (Wales) Bill (PDF, 201KB)
  
  In Wales, we made a submission to the National Assembly for Wales Health, Social Care and Sport Committee inquiry into the Public Health (Wales) Bill.
   
• Response to DEFRA consultation on the Clean Air Zone framework  (PDF, 300KB)
  
  We responded to the Department for the Environment, Food and rural Affairs (DEFRA) consultation on their draft framework for Clean Air Zones in England.
   
• Response to the Mayor of London consultation on air quality (PDF, 228KB) 
  
  We submitted a response to the second phase of the Mayor of London’s consultation on improving air quality.