Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will commission research into the impact of exposure to chronic levels of carbon monoxide through exposure to flueless gaseous appliances such as cookers, grills, hobs and gas fires on levels of dementia in the population.

The Department funds research on health and social care through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The usual practice of NIHR is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics such as dementia or the effects of exposure to indoor air pollutants such as carbon monoxide. Research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality. In all disease areas, the amount of NIHR funding depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity.

The Department has asked the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to develop guidance on indoor air pollution in homes. NICE has worked with Public Health England to develop this scope. The focus will be on interventions related to the structure of, ventilation of, and materials used in, new/existing or retrofitted homes as well as on people’s knowledge, attitude and behaviour in relation to indoor air pollution. The guideline is to be published in September 2019.