Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to improve standards on indoor air quality for regulators and local authorities following the publication of the NICE guidelines on indoor air quality in 2020; and whether his Department is receiving professional guidance, including from the Institute of Air Quality Management, on improving those standards.

Public Health England (PHE) worked with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on the development of the indoor air quality guidelines which are intended to assist local authorities, medical and health professionals, and the building industry. In addition, PHE is working with NICE to develop a quality standard on indoor air quality. The standard will be published for consultation and stakeholders, such as the Institute of Air Quality Management, will have an opportunity to comment.

The Department and PHE are continuing to develop the evidence base for the health impacts of and potential interventions to improve, indoor air quality. These teams are working closely with other Government departments and with NICE and other organisations who provide scientific input and professional guidance on indoor air quality and the impact on public health.