§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which population centres of over 100,000 currently have no national air pollution monitoring station.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe following urban areas with a population of over 100,000, as defined in "Key Statistics for Urban Areas: Great Britain: Census 1981" produced by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and the Registrar General, Scotland, have no national air pollution monitoring stations:
- High Wycombe
- Ipswich
- Blackburn/Darwen
- Reading
- Aldershot
- Bournemouth
- Southend
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total planned number of enhanced urban network monitoring stations for the United Kingdom; and if he will give details of future proposed sites.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe Government intend to expand the enhanced urban monitoring network from 12 to 24 sites by 1997. The Department has also issued a discussion paper on integrating local authority monitoring sites into the national network. Advice on siting will be obtained from the quality of urban air review group.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of air pollution in Stoke-on-Trent; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AtkinsFor the years 1992–93 and 1993–94 the European Community directive (80/779/EEC) limit values for SO2 and smoke was not exceeded in Stoke-on-Trent. The directive guide values for these pollutants was exceeded in both years. The data is as follows:
457W
Time and Limit Limit values SO2 Annual median both year (50 µgm-3) below limit of 80 µgm-3 Annual 98 percentile both years (107 µgm-3 and 108 µgm-3) below limit value of 250 µgm-3 Smoke
Time and Limit Annual median both years (14 µgm-3) below limit of 68 µgm-3 Annual 98 percentile both years (58 µgm-3 and 46 µgm-3) below limit of 213 µgm-3 Guide values SO2 Annual mean both years (53 and 52 µgm-3) above guide of 40 µgm-3 Max day max day both years (125 and 135 µgm-3) above guide value of 100 µgm-3 Smoke Annual mean both years (17 and 16 µgm-3) below guide of 34 µgm-3 Max day max day both years (98 and 84 µgm-3 above guide value of 85 µgm-3
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he now proposes in response to the European framework directive on ambient air quality management.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe European Commission has recently adopted a proposal for a framework directive on ambient air quality assessment and management. My Department will follow the normal procedures for informing Parliament of proposed European legislation as soon as it is notified of the contents of the proposal. The proposal will come for discussion in the European Council in due course, and the United Kingdom will participate fully in those discussions.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to extend the national air pollution monitoring network to include suburban areas.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe Department is advised on siting of air pollution monitors in urban areas by the quality of urban air review group and for ozone by the photochemical oxidants review group. The latter is currently considering the siting of monitors. The Department has issued a discussion paper on integrating local authority monitoring sites into the national network and has already incorporated a suburban site in east London into the network.