Asked by: Chris Ward (Labour - Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the World Health Organization's Air Quality Guidelines, whether his Department plans to introduce a Clean Air Bill.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Last year, the Government launched a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan, to revise our plan for significantly improving the environment, including for air quality. We plan to develop a new, statutory plan to protect and restore our natural environment with delivery information to help meet each of our ambitious Environment Act targets.
We are considering the World Health Organization's guidelines as part of an evidence-led process for considering future targets, however we are clear that these guidelines are not ready-made targets for direct adoption as they do not consider achievability or individual countries’ circumstances.
The Government does not currently have plans for a new Clean Air Act and is instead focusing on developing a series of interventions to ensure everyone’s exposure to air pollution is reduced.
Asked by: Chris Ward (Labour - Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing Clean Air Zones in cities across England.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The evidence shows that Clean Air Zones are effective in reducing air pollution and Defra publish ‘Evaluation of Local NO2 Plans’ annual reports which cover this in detail. Other measures can also be effective, and Local authorities are best placed to determine the best route for reducing nitrogen dioxide in their cities. The Government is committed to working with them as they deliver legally binding obligations to improve the air we breathe. There are no plans to extend clean air zones to other cities.