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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information her Department holds on (a) air quality and (b) pollution levels caused by vehicles in Hartlepool constituency; and if she will make a statement.

Defra provides information about recent and historic levels of pollution, pollution forecasts, health advice and background modelled data on the UK-AIR website at: http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/. Forecasts are issued daily and cover the next five days.

Although Defra does not have a permanent monitoring station in Hartlepool, the nearest monitoring stations can be found on UK-AIR’s interactive monitoring networks map at: http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/interactive-map.

Modelled data is provided for levels at roadside locations for major roads in the UK. This data can also be found at: http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/data/gis-mapping. Local authorities (in this case Hartlepool Council) have a responsibility to assess air quality at a local level. Defra provides guidance and air quality assessment tools to support local authorities in carrying out their duties under the Environment Act 1995. This information can be found at: http://laqm.defra.gov.uk/. Local authorities report on the outcomes of assessments in air quality reports and submit the reports to Defra. Air quality reports include air quality monitoring data, pollutant emissions, sources of pollution and historical trends.

Hartlepool Council’s air quality reports do not apportion information on pollution levels between those caused by traffic vehicles and other sources.