§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the results of the survey of nitrogen dioxide concentrations in the United Kingdom carried out for his Department by Warren Spring laboratory from July to December last year.
§ Mr. MacleanThe report of the survey is being published today. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library of the House. I am very grateful both to Warren Spring laboratory and to the many local authorities which have co-operated in this excellent piece of work.
The survey covered over 300 sites throughout the United Kingdom. A similar survey was carried out in 1986. Comparison of the results shows that average concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) have risen by 35 per cent. over the period, largely as a result of motor traffic growth.
238WThe European Community has set a limit value on NO, concentrations in order to protect human health and the environment, based on studies carried out for the World Health Organisation. The survey results gives us further reassurance that Britain is not in breach of this. There is no evidence that, at current United Kingdom levels, NO2 causes irreversible health effects. But of course we wish to see NO2 pollution levels diminish in future, since high concentrations can cause breathing discomfort in susceptible people.
Much action is already in hand to curb traffic pollution. An emissions test was included in the MOT test last November. Tough European Community standards for new cars will come into effect from the end of this year, reducing harmful emissions from new vehicles by about 80 per cent. A range of new measures is also being implemented to cut traffic congestion and pollution through better traffic management, parking controls and improved public transport. Those initiatives will take time to achieve their full impact, but we should see dramatic improvements in air quality in a few years'.
Careful monitoring of the situation is important in the meantime. The report confirms that our continuous monitoring sites for NO2 are well-chosen, but suggests further studies of the possible need for supplementary sites. Maximum public access to monitoring information is also crucial. Daily bulletins and forecasts of air quality, with associated health guidance, have been issued since October 1990, and are now available on a new Freephone number, (0800 556677), on BBC CEEFAX (page 196) and on television weather reports.