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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2020 to Question 64952 on Air Pollution: Coronavirus, what further studies he has (a) commissioned or (b) plans to commission on the association between covid-19 and air pollution; and if he will make it his policy to publish those studies.

The Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG) report provides an early snapshot of evidence (pre-April 30 2020) and is an important component of Defra's response to COVID-19 and strategic leadership to improving air quality in the UK. A detailed follow-up by AQEG in the form of a more traditional review of the peer reviewed evidence will follow when more is known on the impact of the pandemic on air quality.

Defra continues to have extensive discussions with DHSC and the research community, on the relationship between air quality and health. We are committed to improving our understanding of the possible links between air quality and COVID-19, to inform policy development and will publish any studies at an appropriate time.

I welcome the EFRA Committee Inquiry into Air Quality, and we will be submitting further information about work on the links between air pollution and Covid-19 in our response to the call for evidence.