There has been an impact on PM2.5 concentrations. Between 23 March and 16 September 2020 concentrations of PM2.5 measured by our monitoring network decreased by 15% at urban sites compared to the same period averaged over years 2017-2019. There is substantial local variability, however, with several sites reported increasing concentrations over the period.<\/li><\/ul> <\/p>
Improving air quality remains a top priority for the Government and, especially during these unprecedented times, we will continue to take robust and comprehensive action to improve air quality in the UK and minimise public health impacts. This includes action that Government is taking to deliver our Clean Air Strategy, including through the Environment Bill. We will apply our understanding of the longer-term implications from these unprecedented changes in living and working patterns to delivering our environmental commitments.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4522", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rebecca Pow"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Taunton Deane"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Rebecca Pow"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-09-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-09-24T11:54:57.463Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-09-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Air Pollution: Coronavirus"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of changes in the level of air pollution during lockdown restrictions due to the covid-19 outbreak; and what steps he is taking to reduce air pollution.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1588", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Barbara Keeley"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Worsley and Eccles South"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Barbara Keeley"}
], "uin" : "92743"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1236089", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1236089/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government and regulators are closely monitoring developments relating to impacts on cash access and usage, particularly in light of COVID-19, including through the Joint Authorities Cash Strategy Group. This group, chaired by the Treasury, aims to ensure coordinated oversight of the UK\u2019s cash infrastructure. In July 2020, the Group published an update on its actions, including work led by the Payment Systems Regulator and Financial Conduct Authority to develop a comprehensive picture of cash access infrastructure across the UK in relation to socioeconomic factors that reflect consumer needs.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government is committed to ensuring that the UK\u2019s cash infrastructure is sustainable in the longer term so that widespread access to cash, which remains extremely important to millions of people across the UK, remains available. That is why, at the March 2020 Budget, the Chancellor announced that the Government will bring forward legislation to protect access to cash. The Government is working at pace to develop legislation and will ensure that regulators have the appropriate responsibilities and powers.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4051", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Glen"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Salisbury"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "John Glen"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-09-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "92914"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-09-24T09:58:52.103Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-09-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Money"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to implement a system to (a) measure, (b) analyse and (c) report how well the cash system performs for consumers.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4799", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Charlotte Nichols"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Warrington North"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Charlotte Nichols"}
], "uin" : "92913"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1236090", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1236090/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government and regulators are closely monitoring developments relating to impacts on cash access and usage, particularly in light of COVID-19, including through the Joint Authorities Cash Strategy Group. This group, chaired by the Treasury, aims to ensure coordinated oversight of the UK\u2019s cash infrastructure. In July 2020, the Group published an update on its actions, including work led by the Payment Systems Regulator and Financial Conduct Authority to develop a comprehensive picture of cash access infrastructure across the UK in relation to socioeconomic factors that reflect consumer needs.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government is committed to ensuring that the UK\u2019s cash infrastructure is sustainable in the longer term so that widespread access to cash, which remains extremely important to millions of people across the UK, remains available. That is why, at the March 2020 Budget, the Chancellor announced that the Government will bring forward legislation to protect access to cash. The Government is working at pace to develop legislation and will ensure that regulators have the appropriate responsibilities and powers.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4051", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Glen"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Salisbury"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "John Glen"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-09-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "92913"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-09-24T09:58:52.153Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-09-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Money"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to give a public body the responsibility for tracking trends in the acceptance of cash by businesses.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4799", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Charlotte Nichols"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Warrington North"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Charlotte Nichols"}
], "uin" : "92914"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1236095", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1236095/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Moorland burning is a legitimate land management practice where it is carried out in accordance with the Heather and Grass Burning (England) Regulations (2007) and in accordance with any requirement for consent from Natural England where the land is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).<\/p>
<\/p>
Natural England monitors the condition of SSSIs, which may be affected by burning, through its programme of SSSI condition monitoring. This includes site visits where it is necessary and appropriate.<\/p>
<\/p>
Reports of burning made to Natural England are followed up to ensure that the activity is being carried out with the appropriate SSSI consent where that is required.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4522", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rebecca Pow"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Taunton Deane"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Rebecca Pow"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-09-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-09-24T11:42:05.873Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-09-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Moorland: Controlled Burning"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps (a) his Department and (b) Natural England take to monitor moorland burning; and whether staff from (i) his Department and (ii) Natural England make regular site visits to assess the environmental effect of that burning.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4864", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Olivia Blake"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Sheffield, Hallam"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Olivia Blake"}
], "uin" : "92945"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1236124", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1236124/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK Government works with the United Nations Statistics Division via the UNICEF and WHO Joint Monitoring Programme, an initiative which the UK supports, to assess progress against sanitation and water goals. The Millennium Development Goal target to reduce by half the number of people without access to improved water supply was not met in the sub-Saharan Africa region.<\/p>
The Millennium Development Goal targets were superseded by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The sub-Saharan Africa Region is currently not on track to reach the SDG access to water target by the target year of 2030. The most recent evidence on access to safe water suggests that only 61% of people in sub-Saharan Africa had access to at least basic water supply services in 2017. The impact of COVID-19 makes attainment of the global goals harder but also more urgent as access to water is vital to enable people to wash their hands to stop the spread of the virus.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1559", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir James Duddridge"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rochford and Southend East"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "James Duddridge"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-09-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-09-24T11:01:10.6Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "208"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-09-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sub-Saharan Africa: Water"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of whether the Millennium Development Goal targets on access to clean water by the end of 2020 will be met in sub-Saharan Africa.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1409", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Londonderry"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Gregory Campbell"}
], "uin" : "92710"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1236130", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1236130/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
My Rt Hon Friend, the Secretary of State, and I have regular meetings with the Chair and Chief Executive of the Office of Rail and Road to discuss a wide range of issues, but we have not recently discussed the provision of car parking at stations.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3977", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Daventry"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Chris Heaton-Harris"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-09-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-09-24T11:39:51.233Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-09-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Railway Stations: Parking"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Office of Rail and Road on ensuring continued provision for parking at stations owned by Network Rail and TfL.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1500", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Theresa Villiers"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Chipping Barnet"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Theresa Villiers"}
], "uin" : "92722"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1236187", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1236187/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
During the height of the pandemic, The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency adopted a pragmatic approach to vehicle excise duty enforcement, including the pausing of local authority devolved powers. This approach ensured that those impacted by the pandemic were not further disadvantaged and that a vehicle that may have been needed in an emergency was not immobilised or removed.<\/p>
<\/p>
DVLA enforcement activity has now recommenced. The onus remains with the registered keeper of a vehicle to ensure that their legal obligations are fulfilled and that vehicles are licensed on time.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4668", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachel Maclean"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Redditch"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Rachel Maclean"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-09-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-09-24T08:12:43.157Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-09-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason the DVLA notified local authorities on 30 March 2020 that all enforcement action undertaken on vehicles under devolved powers was to stop; and when he plans to reintroduce that action.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/318", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Spellar"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Warley"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "John Spellar"}
], "uin" : "92677"}
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