Select Committee · Environmental Audit Committee
Air Pollution in England
Status: Open
Opened: 20 Jan 2026
Inquiry scope
Air pollution is a serious threat to both public health and the natural environment. It has been linked to heart disease, strokes, cancer, asthma and impacts on lung development in children. Tens of thousands of lives are being shortened in the UK by air pollution, according to the Chair of the Environment Agency. Through the inquiry, MPs will also consider whether local authorities in England have the resources they need to monitor air quality and enforce existing rules. MPs may consider examples of best practice abroad, and what lessons these might have for policy in England. The new inquiry is the result of the Committee’s ‘The Environment in Focus’ exercise, which saw MPs hear pitches for their next inquiry from a range of academic experts and advocates. The winning pitch was given by Jemima Hartshorn, founder of campaign group Mums for Lungs and Dr Nat Easton, who researches air quality at the University of Southampton. Read the call for evidence for more information about this inquiry, and to find out how to submit written evidence through the Committee's online evidence submission portal.Oral evidence sessions
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| Date | Session and witnesses | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Sep 2026 | Bill Parish · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Hardy MP · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Jennifer Raynor · Department for Transport, Professor Sir Chris Whitty KCB · Department of Health and Social Care, Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP · Department of Health and Social Care, Simon Lightwood MP · Department for Transport, Simon Reeve · Office for Health Improvement and Disparities | View ↗ |
| 24 Jun 2026 | Emma Hardy MP · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Keir Mather MP · Department for Transport, Mrs Sharon Hodgson MP · Department of Health and Social Care, Professor Sir Chris Whitty KCB · Department of Health and Social Care | View ↗ |
| 20 May 2026 | Councillor Jackie Porter · Local Councils Network, Dr Claire Holman · Kalaco group, Dr Gary Fuller · Imperial College London, Dr Suzanne Bartington · UK100's Clean Air Network, Kieran Laxen · Institute of Air Quality Management (IAQM), Tom Parkes · London Borough of Camden | View ↗ |
| 22 Apr 2026 | Ms Jenny Hawley · Plantlife, Professor Anna Hansell · University of Leicester, Professor Mark Sutton · UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Professor Roy Harrison · University of Birmingham, Professor Sir Stephen Holgate CBE · The University of Southampton | View ↗ |
| 18 Mar 2026 | Larissa Lockwood · Global Action Plan, Matt Towner · Impact on Urban Health, Professor Martin Clift · Swansea University Medical School, Ruth Chambers OBE · Green Alliance, Sarah Legge CEnv, MIES, MIAQM · Environmental Policy Implementation Community (EPIC) | View ↗ |
Written evidence
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| Reference | Date | Submitter |
|---|---|---|
| AIR0160 | 14 Sep 2026 | Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs |
Who gave evidence
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| Witness | Organisation | Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Emma Hardy MP · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Water and Flooding) | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 2 |
| Professor Sir Chris Whitty KCB | Department of Health and Social Care | 2 |
| Bill Parish · Head of Air Quality and Industrial Emissions | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 1 |
| Councillor Jackie Porter · Representative | Local Councils Network | 1 |
| Dr Claire Holman · Director | Kalaco group | 1 |
| Dr Gary Fuller · Associate Professor in Air Quality Measurement | Imperial College London | 1 |
| Dr Suzanne Bartington · Chair | UK100's Clean Air Network | 1 |
| Jennifer Raynor · Deputy Director for Environment and Adaptation Strategy | Department for Transport | 1 |
| Keir Mather MP · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State | Department for Transport | 1 |
| Kieran Laxen · Vice-Chair | Institute of Air Quality Management (IAQM) | 1 |
| Larissa Lockwood · Director of Policy and Campaigns | Global Action Plan | 1 |
| Matt Towner · Director of Programmes | Impact on Urban Health | 1 |
| Mrs Sharon Hodgson MP · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention | Department of Health and Social Care | 1 |
| Ms Jenny Hawley · Policy and Advocacy Manager | Plantlife | 1 |
| Professor Anna Hansell · Professor of Environmental Epidemiology | University of Leicester | 1 |
| Professor Mark Sutton · Environmental Physicist | UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology | 1 |
| Professor Martin Clift · Professor of Particle Toxicology and Advanced Human In Vitro Systems | Swansea University Medical School | 1 |
| Professor Roy Harrison · Queen Elizabeth II Centenary Professor of Environmental Health | University of Birmingham | 1 |
| Professor Sir Stephen Holgate CBE · Professor of Immunopharmacology | The University of Southampton | 1 |
| Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP · Minister of State for Public Health and Patient Safety | Department of Health and Social Care | 1 |
| Ruth Chambers OBE · Senior Fellow | Green Alliance | 1 |
| Sarah Legge CEnv, MIES, MIAQM · Vice Chair | Environmental Policy Implementation Community (EPIC) | 1 |
| Simon Lightwood MP · Minister for Local Transport | Department for Transport | 1 |
| Simon Reeve · Deputy Director, Public Health Systems and Workforce | Office for Health Improvement and Disparities | 1 |
| Tom Parkes · Air Quality Programme Manager | London Borough of Camden | 1 |
Correspondence
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