§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will enlarge the number of urban air quality monitoring stations in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThe Government's air quality monitoring network in Wales covers all the main air pollutants: nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, particulates and ozone. An expansion of the urban monitoring network is being considered for the United Kingdom as a whole, and the needs of Wales will be carefully considered as part of this.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the role of the724W Environment Agency in improving local conditions concerning air pollution by large scale industrial establishments with special reference to chimney stacks; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesLarge scale industrial establishments with the potential to cause air pollution generally require authorisation by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution under the integrated pollution control provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This function will be transferred to the new Environment Agency.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the locations of the urban air quality monitoring stations in Wales.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThe Government fund the following types of air quality monitoring:
Enhanced urban air monitoring network
Two sites at Cardiff and one at SwanseaSmoke and sulphur dioxide network
Nine sites at Cardiff, Newport, Pontypool, Neyland, Port Talbot, Cwmgwrach, Glynneath, Welshpool and Wrexham.Nitrogen dioxide survey
Twenty five Welsh local authorities are monitoring nitrogen dioxide at one hundred sites, some of which are rural, as part of a United Kingdom survey.Lead in air monitoring
One site in CardiffIn addition, many Welsh local authorities regularly undertake independent air quality monitoring in their areas funded from their own resources.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance he gives to planning authorities in Wales concerning new developments which may affect air quality; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesPlanning policy guidance note 1, "General Policy and Principles", sets out the general principles that the planning system must take account of in order to protect the environment. Minerals planning guidance note 2, "Applications, Permissions and Conditions", contains advice on the control of dust, smoke and fumes when considering planning applications for mineral workings. In addition, processes with potential to cause air pollution are covered by the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and detailed guidance has been issued to the regulatory authorities on the standards to be applied to protect air quality.