Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Newcastle-under-Lyme Landfill Sites: Health Effects

Tuesday 23 July 2024 · 2 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Adam Jogee asked the Minister to discuss with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs the health effects of toxic air from landfill sites in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.
  • The Minister thanked Adam Jogee and welcomed the opportunity to address the concerns of constituents regarding the environmental and health impacts of Walleys Quarry landfill site.
  • The Minister expressed willingness to visit the constituency to listen to the concerns of affected residents.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Adam Jogee Lab Newcastle-under-Lyme
NHS Environment
Context

The UK Health Security Agency works with the Environment Agency to advise on health risks from landfill sites, including monthly risk assessments using air quality data. A multi-agency group meets regularly to review the situation and any interventions needed.

Question

If he will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the potential effects of toxic air from landfill sites on people's health in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency. I thank the Minister for his answer, and welcome him to his place. Walleys Quarry landfill in Newcastle-under-Lyme is an environmental crisis and a health one too.

Answer from Andrew Gwynne

Public health and prevention are priorities for me and this Labour Government. Obviously, the Environment Agency takes the lead in this specific instance, but I am more than happy to jump off the train at Stoke—if my hon. Friend will pick me up—and visit his constituents to listen to their concerns, and to ensure that the public health considerations are amplified to Environment Agency colleagues.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide a specific timeline or commitment to address the toxic air issue directly.

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Q2 Adam Jogee Lab Newcastle-under-Lyme
NHS Environment
Context

The UK Health Security Agency works with the Environment Agency to advise on health risks from landfill sites, including monthly risk assessments using air quality data. A multi-agency group meets regularly to review the situation and any interventions needed.

Question

I thank the Minister for his answer, and welcome him to his place. Walleys Quarry landfill in Newcastle-under-Lyme is an environmental crisis and a health one too, and my constituents Sheelagh Casey-Hulme, Jan Middleton, Lee Walford and many others are rightly scared and angry about the impact of toxic levels of hydrogen sulphide on the health and wellbeing of local people.

Answer from Andrew Gwynne

Public health and prevention are priorities for me and this Labour Government. Obviously, the Environment Agency takes the lead in this specific instance, but I am more than happy to jump off the train at Stoke—if my hon. Friend will pick me up—and visit his constituents to listen to their concerns, and to ensure that the public health considerations are amplified to Environment Agency colleagues.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide a specific timeline or commitment to address the toxic air issue directly.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)