§ 157. Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions his Department has had with the European Commission on the draft air quality framework directive; and what assessment he has made of the consequences for the United Kingdom national air quality monitoring network and for local authority air quality monitoring activities.
§ Mr. MacleanMy Department has had three meetings with the Commission to discuss its emerging proposals for242W a draft air quality standards framework directive. The proposals are still at an early stage of development and it is too soon to say what implications the eventual directive might have for the United Kingdom monitoring network and local authority monitoring activities. Meanwhile, my Department is already expanding its urban air quality monitoring network and preparing proposals for better integration of central and local monitoring effort.