§ Mr. Chaytor:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to reduce light pollution; and if she will include light pollution in the proposed indicators of countryside quality. [131509]
§ Mr. Bradshaw:Defra considered the control of nuisance caused by lighting in its recent consultation "Living Places: Powers, Rights, Responsibilities". The paper sought opinions as to whether the Government should introduce new regulations for the positioning of external lighting (excluding street lights); and whether the remit of the statutory nuisance regime should be extended to include such lighting. The consultation period closed on 14 February. Copies of the summary report of the responses received have been placed in both Houses, and it is also available at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/consult/pubspace/index.htm
The House of Commons' Select Committee on Science and Technology recently held an inquiry into light pollution and astronomy. This focused on the effectiveness of measures taken to reduce the impact of light pollution on astronomy and considered what further steps, if any, are required. The outcome of the inquiry will be published in due course and will be made available on the House of Commons' website.
The Government will consider their future course of action taking into account any recommendations and conclusions emerging from the Select Committee's inquiry and from Defra's recent consultation exercise. 120W We are currently appraising, in conjunction with the Countryside Agency, the selection of indicators to be monitored as measures of 'countryside quality'. Light pollution is under consideration, but no decision has yet been taken. It is expected that the agreed list of indicators will be published next year.
§ Mr. Wiggin:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which chemicals are included in the measurement of air pollution. [131570]
§ Mr. Bradshaw:Defra measures approximately 180 air pollutants in the national networks, including benzene, 1,3-butadiene, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone, PMio particulate matter, PIVb.s particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, black smoke, 26 volatile organic compounds, 17 metals and trace elements (for example, lead, arsenic and chromium), 52 transboundary pollutants (for example, ammonium nitrate and sulphate), 42 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (for example, benzo[a]pyrene), 17 of the most toxic dioxins including tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) and 7 polychlorobiphenyls. The number of sites measuring each pollutant and their sampling frequency varies from just a few sites sampling on a weekly or monthly basis (for example, dioxins) to dozens of sites monitoring continuously (for example, nitrogen dioxide) depending on the characteristics of each pollutant. Monitoring data for each air pollutant can be found on the National Air Quality Information Archive (www.airqualitv.co.uk).