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 reduce the cost of high standard air quality monitors in the UK.

Our national air quality monitoring network is subject to continuous review to ensure that it remains fit for purpose and delivers value for money. A number of adjustments were made in a recent review including increases in monitoring for fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide. The improvement of our air quality monitoring capability is an ongoing endeavour and we are currently undertaking a strategic review of the network to inform future improvements. Any equipment used in statutory air quality monitoring networks is subject to a certification process to ensure that it meets the required standards for air pollutant measurements as set out in the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 and therefore it is not deemed necessary to legislate further for the standardisation of air quality monitoring.

Regarding the cost of standardised air quality monitors, this is driven by the market. When procuring equipment, officials always work to ensure the best value for money in any monitors procured. Additionally, the approach taken to quantify concentrations of air pollutants across the UK combines modelling with air quality monitoring at the 271 sites across nine national monitoring networks to ensure full coverage of the whole of the UK. The monitoring networks cost the Government approximately £7.5 million each year. Defra is closely following and considering current developments in alternative technologies for the measurement of air pollutants. Based on advice from our independent Air Quality Expert Group, Defra has commissioned work comparing the use of alternative sensor technologies with standard methods, is working with industry to establish performance standards for their use and is testing their real-world application. However, these technologies are not yet mature enough to replace high quality monitors.