HC Deb 21 March 1994 vol 240 cc111-2W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects his Department's expert panel on air quality standards to reach its conclusions on PM10 levels.

Mr. Atkins

The expert panel on air quality standards, a group of independent medical and scientific experts, is considering a standard for particles—PM 10—and I expect it to reach its conclusions as soon as reasonably practicable.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the estimated cost of including the 12 towns recommended by his Department's quality of urban air review group in the enhanced urban network.

Mr. Atkins

The costs for including the 12 towns recommended by the Department of the Environment's quality of urban air review group in the enhanced urban network are £5,382,229 to March 1994.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether levels of PM10 monitored in towns in the enhanced urban network have exceeded(a) United States air quality standards and (b) World Health Organisation air quality guidelines.

Mr. Atkins

In 1992, levels of PM10 exceeded the United States air quality standard at Belfast on three days. World Health Organisation guidelines were exceeded in 1992 at Belfast on 10 days and in Birmingham on four days.

Provisional data for the first half of 1993 show that the United States standard was exceeded in Cardiff and Liverpool on one day each and that the WHO guideline was exceeded in London on two days, Belfast on seven days, Liverpool on three days and in Birmingham and Newcastle on one day each.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he plans to take to control levels of PM10 particulates in the air.

Mr. Atkins

Road transport is the main source of PM10 emissions in urban areas. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister for Roads and Traffic earlier today. Further action to reduce levels of fine particles will be considered in the light of advice from the Department of Health's independent committee on medical effects of air pollutants and the independent expert panel on air quality standards, a group of independent medical and scientific experts which recommends air quality standards to the Secretary of State for the Environment, which is currently considering a standard for particles.