§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals there are to include benzene and particulates in the regulations concerning ventilation in underground car parks; and if he will make a statement. [26173]
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesOn 1 July this year, new building regulations for the ventilation of non-domestic buildings including underground car parks come into force. Guidance is contained in the 1995 edition of the approved document for part F of the Building Regulations. The provisions are based on the amount of ventilation needed to reduce the level of pollutants generally, rather than setting specific limits for individual pollutants such as benzene or particulates. The guidance is kept under review and research is being undertaken to monitor the effectiveness of the provisions in reducing such pollutants.
Occupational exposure limits for benzene and other constituents of vehicle exhaust emissions are controlled by the Health and Safety Commission. The current occupational exposure limits are considered adequate to control the risk of ill health to employees in underground car parks. If appropriate measures are taken to control employees' exposure to the main constituents of vehicle exhaust emissions below the relevant occupational exposure limits, their exposure to other substances hazardous to health in the emissions are also likely to be controlled to levels below which there is unlikely to be any risk to their health.
Air quality is one of the Government's environmental priorities. In January this year, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment published "Air Quality: Meeting the Challenge", which sets out the Government's strategic policies for air quality management, including a pledge to set air quality standards for nine major pollutants, among which are benzene and particulates.