Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to include provisions for achieving World Health Organisation limits on (a) nitrogen dioxide, (b) PM2.5 and (c) PM10 emissions by 2030 in his forthcoming Environment Bill.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
We consulted on our Clean Air Strategy earlier this year, which set out our plans to reduce exposure to air pollution including fine particulate matter, and which signposts our intention to progressively move towards WHO guideline levels for PM2.5, committing to halve the population living in areas with concentrations of fine particulate matter above WHO guideline levels by 2025. This goes further than European Union requirements and we are the first industrialised nation to commit to progressively reducing fine particulate matter pollution in this way.
Through our UK plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations, we are working with local authorities to assist them in reducing exposure to nitrogen dioxide, and to bring these within agreed limits in the fastest possible time.
WHO guidelines are very ambitious, which presents a particular challenge for all countries, particularly in large urban areas and some coastal areas. We will set out provisions to be included in the Environment Bill in due course. Our final Clean Air Strategy will be published shortly.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the World Health Organisation conclusion that there is no safe level of PM2.5 or PM10.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
Particulate matter will always exist as long as we have sea salt, sand and other forms of dust. Particulate pollution is also blown over from neighbouring countries.
We will continue to reduce public exposure to particulate matter from man-made sources in the environment as set out in our draft Clean Air Strategy. We consulted on a commitment to halve the population living in areas with concentrations of fine particulate matter above World Health Organisation (WHO) guideline levels by 2025. The WHO have commended our ambition; this goes further than European Union requirements and we are the first industrialised nation to commit to progressively reducing fine particulate matter pollution in this way. Our final Clean Air Strategy will be published shortly.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government's air quality strategy will include charging clean air zones.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
In May, the Government published a consultation on the draft UK Air Quality Plan for tackling nitrogen dioxide. The consultation includes a range of measures, one of which is charging Clean Air Zones. These zones are designated geographical areas that provide a focus in some towns and cities to improve air quality by permitting vehicle access on the basis of emission standards.
We are considering responses to the consultation. The final plan is due to be published by the 31 July.
Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect on public health of the revised Large Combustion Plant Best Available Technique Reference Document standards; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
The Government is firmly committed to improving the UK's air quality and cutting harmful emissions. This is one of the reasons why the UK has signed up to the National Emissions Ceiling Directive, which sets tougher legally binding ceilings for emissions of five major pollutants in 2020 and 2030. The Government is considering how all sectors of the UK economy, including industry, can contribute to these ambitious targets.
The UK has implemented the EU Industrial Emissions Directive, which aims to achieve a high level of protection of human health and the environment by reducing harmful industrial emissions through setting limits on emissions of key pollutants and application of Best Available Techniques (BAT).
The UK remains a member of the EU until we leave, with full rights and obligations of membership. The Government is therefore participating as usual in the ongoing review process for the Large Combustion Plant Best Available Technique Reference Document (LCP BREF) to ensure that the standards placed on industry deliver benefits to human health and the environment balanced against the costs of implementation. This includes standards applicable to coal-fired power stations. Defra officials are currently examining the proposed LCP BREF ahead of the vote next month.
The Government’s recent consultation on proposals to regulate the closure of unabated coal-fired power plants by 2025 ended in February this year. Responses are currently being considered and resulting measures will be factored into the Government’s future air quality plan.
The draft UK Air Quality Plan for tackling nitrogen dioxide will be published by 24 April.