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 plans to take to reverse the annual increase in particulate emissions from residential burning (domestic consumption).
We have introduced legislation encouraging householders to switch to less polluting fuels used for domestic burning, and, as of January 2022, only Ecodesign compliant solid fuel stoves are able to enter the market for sale across the UK.
Through our landmark Environment Act 2021 we have amended the Clean Air Act 1993 in England to create a simpler mechanism for local authorities to tackle smoke emissions. From May 2022 smoke emissions in a Smoke Control Area will be subject to a civil rather than criminal regime, enforced with a financial penalty, making it easier for local authorities to tackle illegal domestic solid fuel burning.
The Environment Act 2021 also ensures more substantive action can be taken by enabling local authorities to prosecute when smoke is repeatedly emitted from private dwellings under the statutory nuisance regime.