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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the number of medical centres that are located in areas with fine particulate matter over levels recommended by the World Health Organisation; and what steps he is taking to protect patients and healthcare professionals using and working in those centres.

We have not made such estimations. However, we recognise that air pollution poses the biggest environmental risk to public health and is a particular threat to vulnerable groups, including the elderly, the very young, and those with existing health issues.

That is why through the Environment Bill we are committing to set new air quality targets, including a new concentration target for PM_2.5 which will act as a minimum standard across the country. Setting and subsequently meeting these ambitious targets will deliver very significant public health benefits.

Additionally, as we review our Local Air Quality Management Framework, we will outline specific measures to protect those most vulnerable to the effects of air pollutants.