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1702202

registered interest
date	18/04/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Air Pollution
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding is available to local authorities for clean air programmes.
tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
uin	22635
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>We have allocated over £883 million to help local authorities develop and implement local NO2 reduction plans and to support those impacted by these plans. In addition, the Local Air Quality Grant scheme has supported over 500 projects with a total of over £53 million since 2010. We are currently considering whether the Local Air Quality Grant scheme might be redesigned to better deliver positive outcomes for local air quality.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 25/04/2024 09:47:18 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1702203

registered interest
date	18/04/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Air Pollution
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help reduce air pollution.
tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
uin	22636
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>This Government has delivered significant reductions in emissions since 2010 – with emissions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) falling by 24%, and nitrogen oxides down by 48%. We met our targets to reduce emissions for all five key pollutants in the latest reporting year.</p><p> </p><p>Our Environmental Improvement Plan sets out how we will continue to drive down emissions from domestic burning, agriculture, transport, and industry – delivering cleaner air for all.</p><p> </p><p>PM2.5 is the most harmful pollutant to human health, which is why we have set two new targets to drive down PM2.5 concentrations under the Environment Act 2021:</p><ul><li>A maximum annual mean concentration of 10 µg m-3 by 2040</li><li>A population exposure reduction target of 35% by 2040 compared with 2018.</li></ul><p> </p><p>These targets mean that on average, people’s exposure to particulate matter will be cut by over a third by 2040, compared with 2018 levels.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 25/04/2024 09:44:34 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1693409

registered interest
date	04/03/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Air Pollution
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to provide additional support to local authorities to reduce air pollution in areas which breach air quality standards.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	16825
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2024 answer text <p>As recognised in our Environmental Improvement Plan, local authorities have a central role in improving air quality. The Air Quality Strategy, published last year, supports councils in their role by providing a comprehensive framework for local action. Defra also supports local authorities in England to reduce air pollution through events, resources and knowledge sharing, including the 2023 Local Air Quality Symposium.</p><p> </p><p>Alongside this, we run an annual Air Quality Grant Scheme. Through this grant, approximately £52 million has been awarded to nearly 500 local authority projects since 2010. This year the scheme will award over £6 million to improve air quality in local communities.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 08/03/2024 14:20:44 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1693067

registered interest
date	01/03/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Air Pollution
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Office for Environmental Protection’s annual progress report published on 18 January 2024, what steps his Department is taking to (a) safeguard vulnerable groups from the impact of air pollution and (b) encourage long-term behaviour change to reduce polluting activity.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	16460
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2024 answer text <p>Through the Environment Act 2021 we introduced two new targets for fine particulate matter, the pollutant most damaging to human health, setting a maximum annual mean concentration target and a population exposure reduction target. This dual-target approach will improve public health for all by tackling the highest concentrations and ensuring all areas benefit from continuous improvement. Government recognises there is more to do to protect all people in our society and the environment from the effects of air pollution. This is why we are taking the significant and wide-ranging action to drive improvements to air quality as set out in our Environmental Improvement Plan 2023.</p><p> </p><p>Government is undertaking a comprehensive review of how we communicate air quality information to ensure members of the public, and vulnerable groups in particular, have what they need protect themselves and understand how their behaviour impacts on air quality. This review is being undertaken by the Air Quality Information Systems steering group with the aim of publishing the recommendations this summer.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 08/03/2024 16:51:08 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1693069

registered interest
date	01/03/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Air Pollution
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Office for Environmental Protection’s annual progress report published 18th January 2024, if he will bring the ambient air quality standards in the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 in line with World Health Organisation guidelines.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	16461
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2024 answer text <p>The World Health Organisation Air Quality Guidelines are intended to inform the setting of air quality standards and are not ready-made targets for adoption. We will continue to keep our targets under review and consider in line with the best available evidence, specific to our national circumstances.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 08/03/2024 16:43:12 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1692860

registered interest
date	29/02/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Air Pollution
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to reduce the levels of (a) nitrogen dioxide and (b) particulate matter in air.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	16401
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2024 answer text <p>The nitrogen dioxide (NO2) programme has allocated £883m to support local authorities to address NO2 exceedances. This funding has supported measures including vehicle upgrade and scrappage schemes, improved traffic management, and better cycling infrastructure.</p><p> </p><p>New PM2.5 targets were recently set as part of the Environment Act. These targets focus on reducing PM2.5 where concentrations are highest as well as ensuring population exposure is reduced across the country. Meeting these targets will require action across a range of sectors and has included legislation to restrict the sale of wet wood, coal and high sulphur manufactured solid fuels for use in domestic premises. Since January 2022 all stoves placed on the market in the United Kingdom must be Ecodesign compliant. These requirements have been accompanied by an ongoing communication campaign aimed at raising awareness and educating people on the risks of burning solid fuels, encouraging those that need to burn to do so as cleanly and efficiently as possible.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 08/03/2024 14:26:34 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1692861

registered interest
date	29/02/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Air Pollution
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment has he made of the effectiveness of the steps his Department is taking to help ensure that local authorities reach legally-compliant standards in air quality.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	16402
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2024 answer text <p>Under the 2017 UK Plan for Tackling Roadside Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) Concentrations, Government assesses whether local authorities in the NO2 Programme have successfully delivered a reduction in NO2 concentrations. The programme’s evaluation also helps understand the effectiveness and impacts of Local NO2 Plan measures.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Secretary of State is required to lay a statement before Parliament each year, under section 80A of the Environment Act 1995, setting out an assessment of the progress made in meeting our wider air quality standards and objectives as well as the steps taken in support of meeting those standards and objectives.</p><p> </p><p>The last Written Ministerial Statement to this effect was laid in Parliament on 13 July 2023. In accordance with this requirement, the Secretary of State will provide a further update to the House on our progress as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the financial year in 2024.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 08/03/2024 14:23:53 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1691738

registered interest
date	26/02/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Air Pollution
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government (a) is taking and (b) plans to take to ensure parity in air pollution reporting requirements between the UK and EU.
tabling member constituency	Swansea West
tabling member printed	Geraint Davies
uin	15540
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2024 answer text <p>This Government is committed to leaving the environment in a better state than we found it and we have been clear that we will uphold our high standards on environmental protections and meet our international commitments. Having left the EU we want to ensure that our regulatory framework is appropriate, tailored to the UK and able to drive improved environmental outcomes.</p><p> </p><p>The UK reports against requirements for both emissions and concentrations of air pollutants, as set out in domestic and international legislation. Concentrations are assessed under the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 and Environment Act 2021, both of which have annual reporting publications. Achievement of existing emission targets and projected achievement of future targets are reported as part of our domestic obligations under the National Emission Ceilings Regulations 2018 ensuring transparency and scrutiny of the UK’s progress. Emissions are also reported to the UNECE Secretariat to fulfil our international reporting obligations under the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution. In addition to reporting to meet legislative requirements, the UK reports the data in two annual Accredited Official Statistics releases and makes more granular data available through the <a href="https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/" target="_blank">UK-Air</a> and <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnaei.beis.gov.uk%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7Ca530a36096654cf181c108dc3854b391%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638447183634584280%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Yxij%2FUwH%2FbyTW7gVKqZ21y4%2BVWmEpdaxc%2BbT2MFlW8k%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory</a> websites.</p><p> </p><p>The UK also continues to report on industrial emissions through the UK Pollutant Release and Transfer Protocol (PRTR), which is retained EU law and implements the UNECE Kyiv Protocol on PRTRs.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 01/03/2024 11:59:11 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	155 label Biography information for Geraint Davies

1689284

registered interest
date	16/02/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Air Pollution
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will provide additional funding to organisations that increase awareness of how people can protect themselves from air pollution.
tabling member constituency	Streatham
tabling member printed	Bell Ribeiro-Addy
uin	14205
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/02/2024 answer text <p>The grant has been running since 1997 and regularly funds projects aimed at increasing the awareness of the impacts of air pollution. Around £53 million has been awarded across almost 500 projects through the Air Quality Grant scheme since 2010. Projects have included anti-idling campaigns around schools, raising awareness about the impacts of domestic burning, and measures to encourage active travel.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 28/02/2024 11:13:20 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4764 label Biography information for Bell Ribeiro-Addy

1682905

registered interest
date	17/01/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Air Pollution
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the Government will adopt the World Health Organisation's guidelines on the maximum permissible levels of pollutants, published in September 2021, in the context of research published by the University of Dundee on the impact of air pollution on hospital admissions for respiratory disease among children.
tabling member constituency	Swansea West
tabling member printed	Geraint Davies
uin	9990
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2024 answer text <p>The World Health Organisation Air Quality Guidelines are intended to inform the setting of air quality standards and are not ready-made targets for adoption.</p><p> </p><p>We recently set two new stretching and achievable targets for fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) under the Environment Act 2021, following an evidence-based process informed by the WHO Guidelines.</p><p> </p><p>We are working towards delivering these targets as set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 and Air Quality Strategy, which will have significant public health benefits, including for children.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 24/01/2024 16:22:23 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	155 label Biography information for Geraint Davies