Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is planning to fund a public health campaign to let people know how to protect themselves against the effects of air pollution.

The Department of Health and Social Care works closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to make sure the best evidence and information is available to the public. Public Health England (PHE) has developed a work programme to support national and local actions to reduce the health burden in England attributable to air pollution. The programme includes raising awareness of the health effects of air pollution and supporting related work of national and local Government.

In addition, the Department, NHS England and PHE’s Health and Wellbeing Alliance are undertaking a feasibility study on behavioural insights, which aims to improve understanding of how people, particularly vulnerable populations, best receive communications during localised events of elevated air pollution. Results are expected later this year. Currently, PHE disseminates Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs United Kingdom Air Information Resource’s tweets issued during significant high air pollution episodes through PHE’s social media account.