§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new proposals he has to improve knowledge on the effects on the air quality of pollution by(a) PMIOs (b) Aramatis, (c) oletins, (d) formaldehydes and (e) oxides of nitrogen and photochemical smog.
§ Mr. AtkinsAs announced on 3 October, £5 million is to be made available to the Institute of Environment and Health to investigate links between air pollution and respiratory disease. This is in addition to annual expenditure of over £9 million by my Department on air quality research and monitoring.
The expert panel on air quality standards has published recommendations on benzene and ozone, and will be publishing recommendations on carbon monoxide and 1,3-butadiene in the near future. It is at present considering particulates and NO2 and expects to make recommendations in due course. The quality of urban air review group and the photochemical oxidants review group continue to provide advice on wider air quality issues.
I hope to make an announcement later this year on the Government's response to the consultation paper "Improving Air Quality".