In the Guardian today:

Children living in the poorest areas across England are 40% more likely to be admitted to hospital for respiratory infections, an analysis of NHS England data shows, with experts raising the alarm on the impact of air pollution on young people’s health.

The analysis, based on data obtained via freedom of information requests by the charity Impact on Urban Health, revealed 1,941 out of every 100,000 children living in the most deprived fifth of England were admitted to hospital for respiratory illnesses in 2024/25.

Does this apply equally in Scotland?

No.

Respiratory infections from NHS England data:

• Most deprived areas: 19.41 per 1,000 children (1,941 per 100,000).
• Least deprived areas: 13.80 per 1,000 children (1,380 per 100,000). https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jul/23/alarm-hospital-lung-admissions-children-england-poorest

In Scotland:

• Most deprived: 1.51 per 1,000.
• Least deprived: 0.76 per 1,000. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37797317/

What might explain the much lower rate in Scotland in terms of Scottish Government actions on pollution such as ULZs

Several factors could contribute to the apparently lower rates in Scotland, though direct causation is hard to pin down due to differences in data (Scotland’s figures are RSV-specific and older; England’s are broader respiratory infections and more recent). Air pollution is only one piece of the puzzle—housing, smoking, overcrowding, healthcare access, and viral circulation also play roles. That said, Scottish Government actions on pollution, including low-emission measures, are plausible contributors to better outcomes. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jul/23/alarm-hospital-lung-admissions-children-england-poorest

The Scottish Government Actions on Air Pollution

Scotland has pursued more ambitious targets and policies than the rest of the UK in some areas:

• Cleaner Air for Scotland strategy (and updates like CAFS 2): This includes measures to reduce emissions from transport, industry, and domestic sources. Scotland has committed to tighter PM2.5 targets than the rest of the UK (closer to, though still above, WHO guidelines in some cases). https://www.gov.scot/publications/cleaner-air-scotland-2-towards-better-place-everyone/pages/4/
• Low Emission Zones (LEZs): Scotland introduced LEZs in major cities (e.g., Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee). These restrict higher-polluting vehicles more stringently than some English equivalents in certain respects. Glasgow’s LEZ, for example, has been in operation and expanded, aiming to cut NO2 and particulate matter in urban areas where children are most exposed. https://scothealthequity.org/air-pollution-and-inequality-in-scotland/
• Urban planning and school-focused measures: Efforts to reduce traffic near schools, promote active travel, and site developments away from high-pollution zones. Broader policies on home energy efficiency and reducing indoor pollution (damp, mould, solid fuels) also help respiratory health. https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/air-pollution-and-childrens-health
• Overall trends: Scotland has seen substantial declines in key pollutants (PM2.5 and NO2 roughly halved in average concentrations since ~2011 in many areas), with urban-rural gaps narrowing. Large urban areas still have higher pollution, but improvements are notable. https://scothealthequity.org/air-pollution-and-inequality-in-scotland/

These align with evidence that lowering traffic-related pollution (NO2, PM2.5, PM10) reduces childhood respiratory infections, asthma exacerbations, and hospital admissions.

Why This Might Lead to Lower Rates vs. England

• Pollution exposure: Children in deprived Scottish areas may face somewhat lower cumulative exposure due to LEZs and cleaner air policies, even if inequalities persist. England’s denser urban traffic and slower progress in some regions (e.g., London ULEZ faced more controversy/rollout challenges) could sustain higher exposure. https://www.health.org.uk/resources-and-toolkits/data-tools/evidence-hub/relationship-between-air-pollution-and-health
• Deprivation overlap: Pollution is worse in deprived postcodes everywhere, but Scotland’s targeted urban LEZs may have mitigated this more effectively in high-risk child populations.
• Supporting health measures: Scotland’s policies often integrate with housing improvements, smoking cessation, and NHS prevention, amplifying air quality gains.