Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Air Pollution from Motor Vehicles

Thursday 26 November 2020 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Rupa Huq inquired about discussions on the effect of easing lockdown restrictions on air pollution from motor vehicles.
  • The Minister responded that average roadside nitrogen dioxide levels remain below pre-pandemic levels and below those of the previous three years.
  • The Minister stated that a joined-up approach on air quality involves close collaboration with the Department for Transport and the Department of Health and Social Care.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton
Environment
Context

Discussions on the impact of easing lockdown restrictions in August 2020 on air pollution levels, specifically nitrogen dioxide concentrations.

Question

What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the effect of the easing of covid-19 lockdown restrictions in August 2020 on the level of air pollution from motor vehicles. Average roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations remain below pre-pandemic levels despite some increases as restrictions were lifted.

Answer from Rebecca Pow

Average roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations remain below levels observed in the previous three years, despite some increases as the March lockdown measures were eased. Working closely with Ministers in the Department for Transport, we continue to drive forward our ambitious plans to improve air quality, and we are delivering our clean air strategy and working in partnership with local authorities to deliver measures to tackle nitrogen dioxide pollution. The Environment Bill will enable greater local action to tackle air pollution.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific discussions on easing lockdown restrictions were not detailed.

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Q2 Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton
Transport Environment
Context

Suggestions on using technology grants, public transport vouchers, and other measures to reduce driving into the office.

Question

Will the Government adopt a proper, joined-up, cross-governmental strategy, rather than the piecemeal, far-off future targets that they have now? Technology grants for home-working, public transport vouchers and the cutting of staff parking permits could all be part of a joined-up strategy for employers to make driving into the office a thing of the past in the new normal, or at least radically reduced.

Answer from Rebecca Pow

The hon. Lady gives some examples, but she is somewhat aggressive in her approach, in that I work so closely with the Department for Transport and the Department of Health and Social Care so that we do have a joined-up approach on air quality, and our clean air strategy goes right across all Departments. Some £1.2 billion from the Department for Transport is being devoted to cycling and walking investment, and the bike vouchers literally went like hot cakes in the summer. We do work closely together. The hon. Lady raises some important points, and we are looking into all the options because we know that times are changing and work patterns are changing.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific adoption of a comprehensive cross-governmental strategy was not confirmed.

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Q3 Ruth Jones Lab Newport West and Islwyn
Environment
Context

Inquiry about the Minister's attention to work in other parts of the UK, particularly Wales, regarding clean air initiatives.

Question

We are one United Kingdom, so I know that the Minister will have paid keen attention to the work happening, albeit devolved, in other parts of the country to tackle toxic air quality and pollution. Will the Minister confirm that she has read the Welsh Government's clean air plan and share with the House some of the tips she has picked up?

Answer from Rebecca Pow

I thank the hon. Lady for bringing Wales into the discussion, but of course air quality is a devolved matter—she serves on the Environment Bill Committee, in which we have said so many times that it is a devolved matter. I hope that she and the Welsh Ministers have read our clean air strategy, because it is considered a global leader, but I am always open to ideas. If we can pick up tips from other places, I am all for it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The devolved nature of air quality was emphasised rather than direct engagement with Welsh strategy.

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