Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his department has made of the potential public health benefits of (a) introducing a national public awareness campaign on the health impacts of air pollution and (b) updating the thresholds used in the Daily Air Quality Index.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson

The Government is committed to making air quality information accessible and actionable. The Environmental Improvement Plan sets out how we are working to improve public understanding of air pollution and how people can reduce their exposure.

In 2025, the Air Quality Information System steering group published their report on how to improve air quality communications. As part of this work, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs commissioned the study Ricardo report: Evaluation of the Daily Air Quality Index (DAQI) to evaluate whether the DAQI services are achieving the intended objectives and to provide recommendations for improvements. The report is available at the following link:

https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/assets/documents/reports/cat05/2503060821_3_Daily_Air_Quality_Index_Evaluation_FINAL_REPORT.pdf

The current DAQI is based on a consideration of the evidence of health effects following short-term exposure to elevated air pollution and is aligned with most air quality indexes used in other countries

Found: Yours sincerely, Ruth Jones MP Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee

Found: Ruth Jones MP House of Commons London SW1A 0AA Welsh Affairs Committee inquiry: the energy transition

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Ruth Jones (Chair); Ann Davies; Gerald Jones; Ben Lake; Andrew Ranger

Found: Tŷ William Morgan House Cardiff | Caerdydd CF10 1EP www.gov.uk/wales www.gov.uk/cymru Ruth Jones

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Ruth Jones (Chair); Ann Davies; Gerald Jones; Ben Lake; Andrew Ranger

Found: High Peak SK22 3EL Arts and media Committed Central Midlands Ruth Jones MP Newbridge NP11 4EX Other Committed

Found: Grant and Ruth Jones star as Mr. and Mrs.

Submit Evidence (by 31 Aug 2026)

Wales is home to a substantial and well matured defence manufacturing industry, spanning sectors including aerospace, defence-related electronics, drones, weapons, ammunition and land systems manufacturing (e.g. armoured fighting vehicles). The Welsh Government has estimated that Wales’ combined defence and aerospace sector directly employs 16,000 people, has a turnover of £3.7 billion and contributes approximately £1.5 billion in gross valued added (GVA) to the Welsh economy.