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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with stakeholders on updating the Daily Air Quality Index to align it more closely with the new World Health Organisation air quality guidelines published in September 2022.

We are conducting a holistic review of the way we communicate air quality information and advice. The Daily Air Quality Index is included in the scope of this review.

A steering group comprised of specialists in the fields of air quality science, public health, behavioural science and digital communications, along with representatives from vulnerable communities, the general public and central and local Government has been appointed to advise on the scope and nature of the review.

The steering group met for the first time in December 2021.

We will shortly be setting targets to improve air quality under the Environment Act which will be tailored to our domestic context.