Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many diesel (a) cars and (b) vans were registered for the first time in each (i) region of England and (ii) borough in Greater London in each month in 2023.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The number of diesel (a) cars and (b) vans registered for the first time in each (i) region of England and (ii) borough in Greater London in 2023, for which data are available, is provided in the Excel file attached.
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to require companies to tackle material air pollution issues.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In the Environmental Improvement Plan the Government set out measures to tackle air pollution from a range of sources.
With regards to industrial pollution, installations are required by the Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2016 to have an environmental permit and meet limits on emissions. The Environmental Improvement Plan included a commitment to consult on improvements to the mechanisms for developing standards for industrial processes to better reflect our priorities for the environment and to support businesses in innovating and delivering net zero.
Through the new UK Best Available Techniques system Defra is working with industry, regulators and the devolved administrations to update standards for industry through an evidence-led, collaborative approach, which will reduce emissions from the largest industries.
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to take steps to improve the Industrial Emissions Directive to further reduce emissions.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2016 implement the Industrial Emissions Directive. In the Environmental Improvement Plan, the Government committed to consult on improvements to the mechanisms for developing standards for industrial processes to better reflect our priorities for the environment and to support businesses in innovating and delivering net zero.
Through the new UK Best Available Techniques system Defra is working with industry, regulators and the devolved administrations to update standards for industry through an evidence-led, collaborative approach, which will reduce emissions from the largest industries.
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
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.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
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.
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 UK-Air and National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory websites.
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.
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to tackle (a) workforce sickness and (b) reduced productivity due to air pollution.
Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
The Joint DWP and DHSC Work & Health Directorate was set up in 2015 in recognition of the significant link between work and health and to reflect the shared agenda of boosting employment opportunities for disabled people and people with health conditions. This not only benefits people’s health and wealth, but also the UK economy through increased productivity and reduced economic inactivity.
The Government therefore has an ambitious programme of initiatives to support disabled people and people with health conditions, including conditions linked to air pollution, to start, stay and succeed in work. These include: the Work and Health Programme; Access to Work grants; Disability Confident; a digital information service for employers; Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres; and Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care.
Building on existing provision and the £2 billion investment announced at the Spring Budget, we announced a new package of support in Autumn Statement 2023 to: double the number of places on the Universal Support employment programme; launch WorkWell in approximately 15 pilot areas; and explore new ways of providing individuals receiving a fit note with timely access to support, alongside a newly established occupational health taskforce.
The Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) was established as a joint venture between Defra and the DfT to deliver the Government’s NO2 reduction strategies and they have provided this Department with the following information.
The UK is compliant with all its current domestic and international emission reduction commitments. This includes emissions of ammonia (with the inclusion of an approved adjustment), non-methane volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and sulphur dioxide.
However, the Government recognises there is more to do to protect people and the environment from the effects of air pollution, which 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.
This action is supported by the Environment Act 2021, through which we set two ambitious new targets for PM2.5, the pollutant most damaging to human health. Our innovative dual-target approach will improve public health by tackling areas where concentrations are highest as well as driving action to reduce exposure for all, maximising public health benefit.
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make it her policy to monitor firms with financial ties to sovereign wealth funds originating from countries that do not have transparent and democratic systems to ensure the (a) effective allocation, (b) efficient implementation and (c) transparent reporting of committed funds.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
The UK is an open economy and we welcome global investment. UK firms that have financial ties to Sovereign Wealth Funds already have to abide by the UK's regulatory regimes for corporate practice, including the Companies Act, 2006.
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
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.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
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 recently set two new stretching and achievable targets for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) under the Environment Act 2021, following an evidence-based process informed by the WHO Guidelines.
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.
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a Palestinian Visa scheme based upon the Ukraine Visa scheme that allows those with family in the UK to be given safe passage.
Answered by Tom Pursglove
The UK Government is monitoring the situation in Israel and Gaza closely to ensure that it is able to respond appropriately.
We recognise that some people impacted by the events in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories may wish to join family in the UK. The Government is working with authorities across the region to facilitate the repatriation of British citizens and their family members who already hold permission to come to the UK.
There are currently no plans to introduce bespoke arrangements for people arriving from the region who do not hold permission to come to the UK.
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help ensure that children in school are not exposed to high levels of air pollution.
Answered by Damian Hinds
The department has published the Building Bulletin 101, which provides non-statutory guidance on ventilation, thermal comfort and indoor air quality in schools. This is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-bulletin-101-ventilation-for-school-buildings.
Local outdoor air quality is the responsibility of local authorities who should prepare air quality action plans to ensure the level of pollutants is reduced. In January 2019, the government published the Clean Air Strategy setting out plans to deal with all sources of pollution. This is accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/clean-air-strategy-2019.
Guidance on good estate management for ventilation in schools is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/good-estate-management-for-schools/health-and-safety.
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether protocols exist to warn the (a) general public and (b) susceptible individuals during periods of high levels of air pollution.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government makes a wide range of information available to the public through the UK-Air website and X feed. This includes a five-day forecast, the latest local measurements from our nationwide monitoring networks, and health advice informed by the work of the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants.
Air quality forecasts are communicated using the Daily Air Quality Index (DAQI). The DAQI informs the public about levels of air pollution in their area and provides health advice in the form of recommended actions that could be taken according to the level of air pollution for both the general public and susceptible individuals.
As part of the Air Quality Information System review, we are conducting an evaluation assessing the appropriateness and effectiveness of the current DAQI.