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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to meet commitments under the 25 Year Environment Plan and Clean Air Strategy on tackling air pollution indoors.

We are working with the Department of Health and Social Care who have overall oversight of indoor air quality policy.

We have made significant progress in delivering our commitments in the Clean Air Strategy to reduce emissions of particulate matter from domestic solid fuel burning, which contribute to indoor air pollution. On 1 May 2021 new legislation came into force that restricts the sale of the most polluting fuels used in domestic burning. In addition, new emission standards for solid fuel appliances will also come into force from January 2022, ensuring only the cleanest new stoves are available to enter the market for sale.

These measures are supported by an information campaign aimed at educating people about burning better and reducing harmful emissions, with campaign materials found at Burn better: Making changes for cleaner air - Defra, UK. We are also aware that new fuels, such as coffee and olive logs, are entering the market and while the government wants to encourage innovation, customers need to be certain that these products are safe. That is why we will be reviewing these fuels with a view to setting any relevant standards.

We are also working on building our evidence base to support DHSC and ensure that any further future interventions are appropriately targeted and effective. Defra’s Air Quality Expert Group, with support from members of DHSC’s Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution, are producing a report on indoor air quality, focusing on fine particulate matter and volatile organic compounds as the air pollutants which are prevalent in indoor environments.