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 require companies to tackle material air pollution issues.

In the Environmental Improvement Plan the Government set out measures to tackle air pollution from a range of sources.

With regards to industrial pollution, installations are required by the Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2016 to have an environmental permit and meet limits on emissions. The Environmental Improvement Plan included a commitment to consult on improvements to the mechanisms for developing standards for industrial processes to better reflect our priorities for the environment and to support businesses in innovating and delivering net zero.

Through the new UK Best Available Techniques system Defra is working with industry, regulators and the devolved administrations to update standards for industry through an evidence-led, collaborative approach, which will reduce emissions from the largest industries.