Pollution (Yeovil) (Hansard, 28 February 2000)

§ Mr. Meacher

My Department published a set of indicators for a strategy for sustainable development for the UK last December¹. In that report, almost all of the environmental indicators are presented at a national level and there are only a few which are based on site information. One of these is the water quality headline indicator of rivers of good or fair quality (H12) which is derived from measurements at thousands of river quality monitoring sites across the UK. The location and quality of water at sites in the Yeovil area can be found in the "What's in your backyard" section of the Environment Agency's website http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk.

This section also shows the location and emission details of sites which are regulated by the Environment Agency under the integrated pollution control regime. Data on emissions for these sites and large combustion plants are used in the compilation of the indicator of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions (P3). The National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory can be found at the following web address, which is funded by my Department. The address is: http://www.aeat.co.uk/netcen/airqual

The headline air quality indicator of days of moderate or higher air pollution (H10) and the indicator of concentrations of selected air pollutants (P1) are based on data from air quality monitoring sites, but there are no pollution monitoring sites funded by my Department within the Yeovil constituency. Monitoring does take place in the wider region of South-West England and further information can be located under the "Frequently Asked Questions" section at the following web site address funded by my Department. The address is: http://www.aeat.co.uk/netcen/airqual

Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 requires local authorities to review and assess the current and likely future air quality in their areas. Where a local authority considers that one or more of the air quality objectives, as prescribed in regulations, is unlikely to be met by the required date, it must declare an air quality management area, covering the area where the problem is expected. It must then draw up an action plan setting out the measures it intends to take in pursuit of the air quality objectives in 4W the area. The Secretary of State has reserve powers to require local authorities to take action where they are failing to make sufficient progress.

The Yeovil constituency is covered by South Somerset District Council, who are working with three other authorities, Mendip, Taunton Deane and West Somerset, on a joint air quality review and assessment in their areas. They submitted a Stage 1 report to the Department for consultation in February 1999. South Somerset have indicated that the area of Yeovil has been identified as having potentially significant sources of nitrogen oxides and this will be investigated further in their Stage 2 report, which they are currently working on. ¹ Quality of life counts: indicators for a strategy for sustainable development for the United Kingdom, DETR, 1999, ISBN 1 85112 3431