Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to support research into covid-19 and respiratory conditions caused by air pollution.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care, has provided research funding for programmes looking into the factors that contribute to the severity of Covid-19 cases. This includes £4.9m funding to the ISARIC consortium for research and provision of real time information into the factors, including existing respiratory conditions, that put people most at risk of developing severe hospitalised illness as a result of Covid-19; and £1m to OpenSAFELY, a secure platform linking the primary care NHS records of 24 million patients, which is able to identify patients at higher risk of admission, ventilation and death from Covid-19.
UKRI’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) provides a national capability in air pollution research that underpins ongoing evaluations of the potential relationship between long-term air pollution exposure, respiratory conditions and COVID-19 symptoms and mortality. UKRI has also funded or repurposed at least 12 research projects studying the links between Covid-19 and air quality.
Through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the Department of Health and Social Care funds 14 Health Protection Research Units (HPRUs), which are research partnerships between universities and Public Health England (PHE). One of these Units, the NIHR HPRU in Environmental Exposures and Health based at Imperial College London, undertakes research on the health effects associated with exposure to a range of environmental pollutants. This includes research to investigate possible links between air pollution and COVID-19. Further information on projects on COVID-19 that are underway at the Unit can be found here: https://eeh.hpru.nihr.ac.uk/covid-19-projects/.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any correlation between nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide levels in the air and COVID-19 (1) infection, and (2) death rates.
Answered by Lord Bethell
Currently, there is no clear evidence to suggest that nitrogen dioxide and/or nitric oxide have a direct link to the infection rate or death rate of COVID-19.
Public Health England and other Government departments are reviewing and considering factors such as air pollution which may influence the health impact of COVID-19. This includes assessing whether there is any evidence of an association between exposure to gaseous pollutants or particulates and COVID-19 mortality in the United Kingdom.
Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people they estimate have died from illnesses resulting from poor air quality or air pollution; and whether either (1) a monthly, or (2) a quarterly, breakdown of those figures is available for each such year.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants estimates that the mortality burden of the air pollution mixture (based on both PM2.5 and NO2) in the UK is equivalent to 28,000 to 36,000 deaths per year. Mortality burden is a statistical way of assessing the impact of diseases and pollution. The equivalent figures at a monthly or quarterly period are not available.
Public Health England has, however, estimated the fraction of adult mortality attributable to long-term exposure to particulate air pollution at local authority level in the Public Health Outcomes Framework. This is available to view and search online at: https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/public-health-outcomes-framework.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking in response to the death of Ella Kissi-Debrah to (a) improve asthma care and (b) monitor and reduce the effect of air pollution on asthma outcomes.
Answered by Seema Kennedy
The National Health Service is working closely with voluntary sector partners to improve patient outcomes for those with severe asthma and an NHS Cardiovascular Disease-Respiratory national programme has been developed in line with recommendations from the Taskforce for Lung Health.
Both respiratory disease and the health of children and young people are priority areas in the NHS Long Term Plan, which aims to improve respiratory care through earlier diagnosis and increased access to treatments. The Respiratory Delivery Board will take forward respiratory proposals set out in the Plan, while the Children’s Transformation Board will oversee work to review national asthma policy and existing clinical guidelines.
The current quality outcomes framework indicators for asthma are in consultation and changes for the annual review indicators may include data on asthma control; exacerbations; and written personalised action plans. NHS RightCare will be publishing an asthma toolkit later this year to support local commissioners and systems in delivering quality care. A best practice tariff for asthma, which aims to reduce variation in asthma care, is also in development.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the (1) number of deaths that can be attributed to poor air quality in the London Borough of Hounslow; and (2) impact of the proposed expansion of Heathrow airport on such numbers.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
Air quality is a national health issue, which this Government takes very seriously. This is why the Government recently published the Clean Air Strategy, which includes new measures and funding to cut pollution and save lives.
Public Health England is responsible for collecting data to better understand public health challenges. This data is publically available via the Public Health Outcomes Framework for England portal,[1] which includes an indicator for air pollution expressed as the fraction of adult mortality attributable to long-term exposure to human-made particulate air pollution. The most recent published estimates available are for 2017. These show 6.4% for Hounslow, which is lower than the London average of 6.5%.
The estimates do not cite a specific cause of death of any individual, but reflect an equivalency which is used to assess the impacts of particulate air pollution contributing to death.
With regard to Heathrow expansion, the Airports National Policy Statement is clear that development consent would not be granted if the Secretary of State for Transport is not satisfied that the scheme would be compatible with legal obligations on air quality.
As part of the development consent process, an applicant is required to undertake a detailed assessment of the air quality effects of the scheme, including during construction, and to put forward to the Planning Inspectorate an appropriate package of mitigations where necessary to ensure compliance with air quality obligations. The applicant is also required to produce a detailed Health Impacts Assessment to set out the scheme’s impacts on public health, including from worse air quality.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 February 2018 to Question 126648 on Air Pollution: Death, by what year the target of reducing early deaths resulting from air pollution by half is projected to be achieved.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The UK has set stringent targets to cut emissions to air by 2020 and 2030 of five pollutants; Particulate Matter, ammonia, nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds and sulphur dioxide.
We consulted on our Clean Air Strategy earlier this year which set out proposed actions to meet these targets, and thus, to reduce the harm to human health from air pollution by half by 2030. Our final Clean Air Strategy will be published shortly.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps Public Health England is taking to raise awareness of the danger posed by carbon monoxide; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Steve Brine
Public Health England (PHE) raises public awareness of the impacts of carbon monoxide (CO) pollution by supporting activities that aim to change behaviour, such as the annual Clean Air Day. PHE is also working with health partners for example, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to improve the evidence on the health impacts of poor indoor air quality which will enhance advice to the public.
PHE promotes awareness about CO through the use of blog posts, press releases and social media updates. PHE produces a number of materials, which are issued over the winter period, and provide information on, and warnings of the dangers of CO poisoning to help prevent potential injury or death. This includes the Cold Weather Plan, updated in October 2018. This is shared and promoted through all channels including all local authorities and National Health Service organisations and can be viewed at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cold-weather-plan-cwp-for-england
PHE published advice and guidance on social media to remind campers about the dangers of using barbeques inside tents and other enclosed spaces. An example of this can be viewed at the following link:
https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2015/12/15/carbon-monoxide-the-silent-killer/
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to educate the public on (a) the dangers of carbon monoxide and (b) seek to prevent further deaths and injuries from such poisoning; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Steve Brine
Public Health England (PHE) raises public awareness of the impacts of carbon monoxide (CO) pollution by supporting activities that aim to change behaviour, such as the annual Clean Air Day. PHE is also working with health partners for example, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to improve the evidence on the health impacts of poor indoor air quality which will enhance advice to the public.
PHE promotes awareness about CO through the use of blog posts, press releases and social media updates. PHE produces a number of materials, which are issued over the winter period, and provide information on, and warnings of the dangers of CO poisoning to help prevent potential injury or death. This includes the Cold Weather Plan, updated in October 2018. This is shared and promoted through all channels including all local authorities and National Health Service organisations and can be viewed at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cold-weather-plan-cwp-for-england
PHE published advice and guidance on social media to remind campers about the dangers of using barbeques inside tents and other enclosed spaces. An example of this can be viewed at the following link:
https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2015/12/15/carbon-monoxide-the-silent-killer/
Asked by: Edward Miliband (Labour - Doncaster North)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of excess deaths in England caused by air pollution.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution, published a report in August 2018 (Associations of long-term average concentrations of nitrogen dioxide with mortality), stating:
“[…] the range of central estimates of the mortality burden of long-term exposure to the air pollution mixture in 2013 in the UK was an effect equivalent to 28,000 to 36,000 deaths at typical ages, associated with a loss of 328,000 – 416,000 life years […]”
The statistics used are not cited as the specific cause of death of any individual, but reflect an equivalency which is used to assess the different impacts of factors contributing to death.
The Committee has not attributed specific morbidity to schools or children in this report, rather to the whole population.
The report can be seen here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/734799/COMEAP_NO2_Report.pdf
Air quality is the biggest environmental threat to public health, and so this Government has put in place a £3.5 billion plan to clean up our air. The Department also published our draft Clean Air Strategy for consultation this May, setting out our ambition for cleaner air for all. We will publish the final Strategy later this year.
The Department is also shortly bringing forward a new Environment Bill, which will include strong measures to improve the air we all breathe.
Asked by: Edward Miliband (Labour - Doncaster North)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the contribution of air pollution in schools to the overall number of excess deaths due to air pollution in England.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution, published a report in August 2018 (Associations of long-term average concentrations of nitrogen dioxide with mortality), stating:
“[…] the range of central estimates of the mortality burden of long-term exposure to the air pollution mixture in 2013 in the UK was an effect equivalent to 28,000 to 36,000 deaths at typical ages, associated with a loss of 328,000 – 416,000 life years […]”
The statistics used are not cited as the specific cause of death of any individual, but reflect an equivalency which is used to assess the different impacts of factors contributing to death.
The Committee has not attributed specific morbidity to schools or children in this report, rather to the whole population.
The report can be seen here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/734799/COMEAP_NO2_Report.pdf
Air quality is the biggest environmental threat to public health, and so this Government has put in place a £3.5 billion plan to clean up our air. The Department also published our draft Clean Air Strategy for consultation this May, setting out our ambition for cleaner air for all. We will publish the final Strategy later this year.
The Department is also shortly bringing forward a new Environment Bill, which will include strong measures to improve the air we all breathe.