Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government's air quality strategy will include charging clean air zones.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
In May, the Government published a consultation on the draft UK Air Quality Plan for tackling nitrogen dioxide. The consultation includes a range of measures, one of which is charging Clean Air Zones. These zones are designated geographical areas that provide a focus in some towns and cities to improve air quality by permitting vehicle access on the basis of emission standards.
We are considering responses to the consultation. The final plan is due to be published by the 31 July.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect on public health of the revised Large Combustion Plant Best Available Technique Reference Document standards; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Government is firmly committed to improving the UK's air quality and cutting harmful emissions. This is one of the reasons why the UK has signed up to the National Emissions Ceiling Directive, which sets tougher legally binding ceilings for emissions of five major pollutants in 2020 and 2030. The Government is considering how all sectors of the UK economy, including industry, can contribute to these ambitious targets.
The UK has implemented the EU Industrial Emissions Directive, which aims to achieve a high level of protection of human health and the environment by reducing harmful industrial emissions through setting limits on emissions of key pollutants and application of Best Available Techniques (BAT).
The UK remains a member of the EU until we leave, with full rights and obligations of membership. The Government is therefore participating as usual in the ongoing review process for the Large Combustion Plant Best Available Technique Reference Document (LCP BREF) to ensure that the standards placed on industry deliver benefits to human health and the environment balanced against the costs of implementation. This includes standards applicable to coal-fired power stations. Defra officials are currently examining the proposed LCP BREF ahead of the vote next month.
The Government’s recent consultation on proposals to regulate the closure of unabated coal-fired power plants by 2025 ended in February this year. Responses are currently being considered and resulting measures will be factored into the Government’s future air quality plan.
The draft UK Air Quality Plan for tackling nitrogen dioxide will be published by 24 April.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that the placing of pollution standards on coal power stations is included in the Government's air quality plan.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Government is firmly committed to improving the UK's air quality and cutting harmful emissions. This is one of the reasons why the UK has signed up to the National Emissions Ceiling Directive, which sets tougher legally binding ceilings for emissions of five major pollutants in 2020 and 2030. The Government is considering how all sectors of the UK economy, including industry, can contribute to these ambitious targets.
The UK has implemented the EU Industrial Emissions Directive, which aims to achieve a high level of protection of human health and the environment by reducing harmful industrial emissions through setting limits on emissions of key pollutants and application of Best Available Techniques (BAT).
The UK remains a member of the EU until we leave, with full rights and obligations of membership. The Government is therefore participating as usual in the ongoing review process for the Large Combustion Plant Best Available Technique Reference Document (LCP BREF) to ensure that the standards placed on industry deliver benefits to human health and the environment balanced against the costs of implementation. This includes standards applicable to coal-fired power stations. Defra officials are currently examining the proposed LCP BREF ahead of the vote next month.
The Government’s recent consultation on proposals to regulate the closure of unabated coal-fired power plants by 2025 ended in February this year. Responses are currently being considered and resulting measures will be factored into the Government’s future air quality plan.
The draft UK Air Quality Plan for tackling nitrogen dioxide will be published by 24 April.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to adopt the revised large combustion plant best available technique reference document at the next Industrial Emissions Directive Committee meeting in April 2017.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Government is firmly committed to improving the UK's air quality and cutting harmful emissions. This is one of the reasons why the UK has signed up to the National Emissions Ceiling Directive, which sets tougher legally binding ceilings for emissions of five major pollutants in 2020 and 2030. The Government is considering how all sectors of the UK economy, including industry, can contribute to these ambitious targets.
The UK remains a member of the EU until we leave, with full rights and obligations of membership. The Government is therefore participating as usual in the ongoing review process for the Large Combustion Plant Best Available Technique Reference Document (LCP BREF) to ensure that the standards placed on industry deliver benefits to human health and the environment balanced against the costs of implementation. Defra officials are currently examining the proposed LCP BREF ahead of the vote next month.
As the Prime Minister announced last year, our plans for the Great Repeal Bill will convert current EU law into domestic British law. Our intention is to ensure a smooth and orderly transition via the Great Repeal Bill and to provide as much certainty as possible by maintaining the existing laws. We will be providing further information on the Great Repeal Bill in due course.
The draft UK Air Quality Plan for tackling nitrogen dioxide will be published by 24 April.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that the revised Large Combustion Plant Best Available Technique Reference Document standards are reflected in the Government's air quality plans.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Government is firmly committed to improving the UK's air quality and cutting harmful emissions. This is one of the reasons why the UK has signed up to the National Emissions Ceiling Directive, which sets tougher legally binding ceilings for emissions of five major pollutants in 2020 and 2030. The Government is considering how all sectors of the UK economy, including industry, can contribute to these ambitious targets.
The UK remains a member of the EU until we leave, with full rights and obligations of membership. The Government is therefore participating as usual in the ongoing review process for the Large Combustion Plant Best Available Technique Reference Document (LCP BREF) to ensure that the standards placed on industry deliver benefits to human health and the environment balanced against the costs of implementation. Defra officials are currently examining the proposed LCP BREF ahead of the vote next month.
As the Prime Minister announced last year, our plans for the Great Repeal Bill will convert current EU law into domestic British law. Our intention is to ensure a smooth and orderly transition via the Great Repeal Bill and to provide as much certainty as possible by maintaining the existing laws. We will be providing further information on the Great Repeal Bill in due course.
The draft UK Air Quality Plan for tackling nitrogen dioxide will be published by 24 April.