Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) schools and (b) playgrounds in England that are in the vicinity of air quality monitoring sites that have recorded a rise in the level of air pollutants in the last 12 months.
Answered by Steve Double
Data on the location of monitoring sites, as well as pollutant concentrations from these sites, is available on the UK Air website (https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk).
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the effect of the July 2022 heatwave on air quality around (a) schools and (b) care homes.
Answered by Steve Double
Defra provides a five-day air pollution forecast and health advice in the form of recommended actions that could be taken according to current air pollution levels. The annual 'Air Pollution in the UK' report provides information and assessment of significant periods of air pollution across the UK. The report covering the 2022 heatwave period and any associated air pollution episode will be published in September 2023.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to help support local authorities mitigate the impact of air pollution at schools where recorded levels are higher than WHO guideline limits.
Answered by Will Quince
The department has published guidance in the Building Bulletin 101 (BB101), which provides guidelines on indoor and outdoor air quality in new and refurbished schools: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-bulletin-101-ventilation-for-school-buildings. BB101 guidance promotes best practice in controlling pollutants and setting maximum standards for levels of pollutants in indoors.
Outdoor air quality is the responsibility of local authorities who should prepare air quality action plans to ensure the level of pollutants is reduced. In January 2019, the government published the Clean Air Strategy setting out plans to deal with all sources of pollution.
Asked by: Baroness Wilcox of Newport (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to make changes to (1) standards, or (2) guidance, for the (a) construction, and (b) specification, of new school buildings, in respect of either (i) classroom ventilation, or (ii) air purification, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Schools should always create a healthy indoor environment for occupants, this includes keeping spaces ventilated to reduce the concentration of pathogens in the air, such as COVID-19. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the department have emphasised the importance of ventilation and provided guidance to settings on ventilation requirements.
In 2018, the department published Building Bulletin 100, guidance for school design on ventilation, thermal comfort, and indoor air quality. This includes the World Health Organisation’s air quality guidelines and Air Quality Standards Regulation 2010 for indoor air quality. The full publication can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-bulletin-100-design-for-fire-safety-in-schools.
Furthermore, the department sets environmental standards for centrally delivered new schools and sets a minimum specification for ventilation to address healthy indoor air quality.
The current version was updated recently and published in November 2021. This can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/output-specification-generic-design-brief-and-technical-annexes.
Asked by: Baroness Wilcox of Newport (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made on their trial in Bradford of air purification technology suitable for classroom contexts.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The study of air cleaning units in primary schools, funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, is run by the class-ACT (air cleaning technology) consortium and led by the Centre for Applied Educational Research at the University of Leeds.
The trial has provided valuable informal interim feedback on the practicalities of introducing ACT in schools. These interim findings have been published by the Class-ACT consortium as a 10-step guide for schools, published in the Times Educational Supplement on 27 January. This article can be found here: https://www.tes.com/magazine/analysis/general/covid-schools-ventilation-10-step-guide-using-air-cleaning-units.
The study of air cleaning technologies is still ongoing, findings are planned to be published in late 2022.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to give further financial support to local authorities tackling rising levels of toxic air.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Latest published figures show that air pollution has reduced significantly since 2010. Emissions of nitrogen oxides have fallen by 44% - and are at their lowest level since records began, sulphur dioxide emissions have fallen by 70% and fine particulate matter emissions are down 18%. However, the Government recognises that there is more to do to protect people and the environment from the effects of air pollution.
We are providing £880 million to help local authorities develop and implement local air quality plans and to support those impacted by these plans. This government is also taking action across transport by supporting the switch to electric vehicles with £2.8 billion of investment, and £2 billion in funding for cycling and walking over this Parliament.
We have also recently awarded £11.6 million from Defra's annual Air Quality Grant Scheme to local authorities in England for projects in local communities to tackle air pollution and reduce emissions affecting schools, businesses, and communities. The scheme will open for applications again later this year.
We also plan to provide local authorities with funding for measures introduced through our landmark Environment Act 2021 to improve the enforcement and management of smoke emissions in smoke control areas in England.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of guidance on ventilation in schools on air pollution in classrooms.
Answered by Robin Walker
During the autumn term, the department provided over 353,000 CO2 monitors to all state-funded education providers, including early years, schools and further education colleges, backed by £25 million in government funding. Feedback suggests that schools are finding the monitors helpful to manage ventilation and, in the majority of schools, colleges and nurseries, existing ventilation measures are sufficient.
All department-funded CO2 monitors are supplied with a 1 metre USB cable that can be plugged into a standard USB power source, such as mains adaptors or laptop. Schools, colleges and nurseries can use any standard USB plug adaptor for the CO2 monitors, such as ones used to charge mobile phones or other electrical devices. This is the primary means of powering the devices, batteries are a back-up. The life of the back-up battery is variable based on the refresh rate of the device and if providers wish to use the CO2 monitor battery powered. In most cases, they can extend battery life by changing the refresh rate on their CO2 monitors. We have provided schools, colleges and nurseries with guidance on how to use their monitors effectively. Education providers can also contact the supplier of their device if they have any technical queries.
If any school feels they have received an insufficient number of CO2 monitors to cover approximately one monitor for every two teaching rooms, they should request additional monitors via the department’s Coronavirus Helpline. Similarly, where the lack of plugs is causing challenge, education providers should contact the department via the department’s helpline for additional support.
CO2 monitors are an additional measure that we are rolling out to education providers to be used as a guide for where ventilation can be improved. It is up to school leaders to decide how to best use them in their specific environment. There is no requirement from the department for providers to record readings or share these with the department. Feedback suggests that the monitors are acting as a helpful tool to manage ventilation, sitting alongside the other protective measures in place to manage transmission, such as regular testing, vaccinations and increased hygiene.
The department recognises that schools may be facing pressures this winter, particularly where energy prices have increased. As well as helping to identify areas that are poorly ventilated, CO2 monitors can be useful to help providers balance good ventilation with keeping classrooms warm. When CO2 monitors indicate good ventilation, there is no need to keep windows fully open at all times at the expense of keeping classrooms warm. Opening windows regularly for 10 minutes, or a small amount continuously, can still reduce the airborne risk from COVID-19 substantially compared to spaces with no fresh air. In addition to the department-funded CO2 monitors and air cleaning units, and accompanying guidance on ventilation, all schools can access a range of school resource management tools to help them get the best value from their resources, including two Schools Commercial Team recommended deals for energy costs and ancillary services relating to energy, which can be accessed via the “Find a DfE-approved framework for your school” service on GOV.UK.
For education providers with particularly poor ventilation, we are supplying up to 7,000 units in response to feedback from providers, where quick fixes to improve ventilation is not possible. This is in addition to the 1,000 department-funded air cleaning units that we announced on 18 November for special educational needs and disabilities and alternative provision providers.
When used properly, air cleaning units can help reduce airborne contaminants in a poorly ventilated space, such as SARS-CoV-2 particles, dust, pollen amongst other pollutants. Air cleaning units are not a substitute for ventilation and should never be used as a reason to reduce ventilation. They are not necessary in spaces that are adequately ventilated.
Asked by: Sam Tarry (Labour - Ilford South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the Government will help promote school street schemes which keep traffic away from schools at drop off and pick up times to reduce air pollution as a health issue for children.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Prime Minister's Cycling and Walking Plan (Gear Change) was published in July 2020 and included a range of commitments to boost the amount of walking and cycling to school. Hundreds of School Streets have been delivered. These have led to local improvements in air quality and improved the safety of pupils, leading to significant rises in the number of children cycling and walking to school.
£338 million has been made available this year through active travel funding. This will enable local authorities to deliver new safe cycling and walking routes in their areas, which could include the delivery of School Streets.
Local authorities have a range of powers to take action to reduce pollution from road vehicles, such as introduce 20mph zones and enforcing anti-idling laws. Local authorities in England can install School Streets restricting vehicle access around schools using standard traffic signing.
Asked by: Geraint Davies (Independent - Swansea West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the NHS asthma bundle, launched in September 2021, in informing the public about the health risks of air pollution; what discussions he has had with (a) chief executives of NHS England and (b) ministers of health in (i) Scotland, (ii) Wales and (iii) Northern Ireland on the successful implementation of that bundle.
Answered by Maggie Throup
No specific assessment has been made or discussions have taken place. However, NHS England and NHS Improvement have established a community of practice for children and young people with asthma, to gain feedback on the implementation of the standards outlined in the national bundle of care for children and young people with asthma.
The bundle sets out evidence-based interventions to help children, young people, families and carers, to control and reduce the risk of asthma attacks and sets out three key standards on air pollution. All healthcare professionals working with children and young people with expected or diagnosed asthma should understand the sources and dangers of air pollution and discuss risks and potential mitigation strategies with them. Children and young people, parents and carers should receive information on managing asthma with regards to air pollution. Integrated care systems should also ensure they are linked with schools where education on asthma should be provided.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the impact of unclean air on the health and well-being of children.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Air pollution poses the biggest environmental threat to public health and children are particularly vulnerable to its effects. I and my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs work closely with our counterparts in other Departments on issues related to air pollution, including on understanding and reducing the harms it causes.
The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) provides independent advice to Government departments and agencies on how air pollution impacts on health, including the health of children (published reports). Defra continues to work across Government, including with DHSC and the new UK Health Security Agency, to understand the relationship between air quality and health.
The improvement of air quality and reduction in associated health harms remains a top priority for the Government. The Government is therefore taking a range of actions to tackle air pollution, including through the landmark Environment Bill and by implementing the Clean Air Strategy.
Defra’s Air Quality Grant Programme provides funding to local authorities, for projects in local communities to tackle air pollution and reduce emissions affecting schools, businesses and residents. This year we have awarded over £5 million, of which over £1 million has been awarded to projects specifically targeted at making improvements for children. Next year £9 million of funding will be awarded, of which at least £1 million will be dedicated to projects to improve public awareness in local communities about the risks of air pollution. Particular focus will be given to projects that deliver measures that focus on vulnerable groups, including children.