Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of nitrogen oxide levels on children’s health as at 26 January 2022.

We know air pollution is a particular threat to vulnerable groups, including children. Our Clean Air Strategy sets out an ambitious programme of action to reduce air pollution from a wide range of sources. Our Environment Act also makes a clear commitment to set ambitious targets for fine particulate matter, the pollutant of most concern for human health.

The Government receives objective and independent advice from a number of air pollution and health experts on the impact of pollution on health, in particular the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants which keeps emerging evidence under regular review. We also receive advice from the UK Health Security Agency and the Department for Health and Social Care.