4th Report - Improving air quality
- HC No.
- HC 433
- Published
- 15 Mar 2018
- Items
- 0
- Government response
- Government response published 20 June 2018. Read the government's response ↗
Select committee: Transport Committee
Improving air quality
Closed
Opened 6 Oct 2017
Closed 20 Jun 2018
Transport Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
Report - Improving air quality Report - Improving air quality (PDF 754 KB) Government Response: Improving air quality Government Response: Improving air quality (PDF 284 KB) MP's from four select committees have combined forces to relaunch an unprecedented joint inquiry on air quality to scrutinise cross-government plans to tackle pollution hotspots. The Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Environmental Audit Committee, Health, and Transport Committees call for evidence on how effective the Government’s plans are for tackling the health and environmental impacts of outdoor air pollution.
Where it stands
The inquiry is closed, opened 6 October 2017.
The committee has published 1 report, most recently 4th Report - Improving air quality on 15 March 2018.
The government's response
Published 20 June 2018.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government's response sets out action across the recommendations, and states that it does "not agree" that previous NO2 measures were implemented in isolation and does not consider it "appropriate" for central Government to audit individual local plans.
- On the national information campaign, the government says it is "not possible for PHE to deliver an effective and appropriate campaign by September 2018"; PHE is reviewing evidence on interventions and will report to Ministers "later this year".
- On new legislation, the government is consulting on a statutory environmental body and says it "will bring forward" an Environment Principles and Governance Bill. Its Clean Air Strategy proposes new primary legislation, and it says it "will legislate" for new England-wide and local powers.
- On charging Clean Air Zones, the government says local authorities are "best placed to take the lead" and that, if another measure is at least as effective at reducing NO2, "those measures should be preferred". It will require councils to act if plans do not meet its test.
- On local plan audits, it agrees that plans should contribute to better air quality but does "not consider" an audit appropriate, citing independent examination; it proposes strengthening national policy and is "considering the consultation responses" on further guidance.
Reports
- 4th Report - Improving air quality15 March 2018
Evidence
- 2 oral evidence sessionsLatest 30 November 2017
Recent activity
- 10th Special Report - Improving air quality: Government Response to the Committee's Fourth Report20 June 2018, Report published
- 4th Report - Improving air quality15 March 2018, Report published
- Oral evidence session30 November 2017, Oral evidence
Reports
Oral evidence sessions
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