Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the public health impacts of reduced air quality caused by urban grass and open-air fires on urban populations in Leicester.

In Leicester and other areas of the country wildfires pose multiple health risks, including injuries, respiratory and cardiovascular impacts from smoke exposure, and mental health impacts. Smoke from wildfires can degrade air quality significantly and can lead to increased risk of air pollution mortality.

I refer the Hon Member to the report published by the UK Health Security Agency on the Health Effects of Climate Change, with a focus on the impact of heat on wildfires and health, available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/heat-summary-chapter-10-wildfires-and-health