Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Accepted
Government is not yet taking a sufficiently integrated approach to tackling the problem of poor...
Recommendation
Government is not yet taking a sufficiently integrated approach to tackling the problem of poor air quality. Measures to tackle air pollution on the strategic road network risk displacing heavy vehicle traffic onto local roads. Although government is aware of this risk, we are not clear what specific actions are being taken to work with local authorities to manage this risk, and National Highways has not published criteria that set out the point at which this possibility renders a particular measure non-viable. In addition to working with local authorities, central government is starting to develop opportunities Tackling local air quality breaches 7 to work with local health and education providers to support air quality communications campaigns, such as through a pilot project working with around 40 GPs and awards through the local air quality grants programme. The Departments for Business, Energy, Innovation and Skills (BEIS) and for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) are also important partners for addressing issues of air quality. Recommendation: The update to the National Air Pollution Control Programme should set out how government will ensure full integration between the different areas of responsibility with an impact on air quality.
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the recommendation and states they have consulted on a revised National Air Pollution Control Programme (NAPCP) which includes robust actionable measures for further consideration to deliver compliance with the 2030 targets for all air pollutants.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Recommendation implemented The government has consulted on a revised National Air Pollution Control Programme (NAPCP) which includes robust actionable measures for further consideration to deliver compliance with the 2030 targets for all air pollutants. Responses to the consultation are currently being carefully considered. Strong governance arrangements regarding Air Quality policies are already in place. The draft revised NAPCP sets out wide-ranging policies and measures to be considered further to drive emission reductions across to meet the 2030 emission reduction ceilings for five key pollutants. These sectors include domestic combustion, industry, agriculture and transport. It is based on analysis that includes estimates of pollutant emissions reductions of existing decarbonisation policies as well as air pollution measures. The responsibility for these measures rests with different departments across government. As the NAPCP is UK wide, the government has also included measures which are the responsibility of Scottish Government, Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. In particular, the government took an integrated approach by making sure DfT and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) work closely together. Policies and proposals relating to road transport and decarbonisation have been considered from the following strategies: • the Net Zero Strategy (HM Government) • the Reducing Car Use for a healthier, fairer and Greener Scotland • the Clean Air plan for Wales and the Net Zero Wales: Carbon budget 2 The draft revised NAPCP was subject to a six-week consultation, that ran from 25 July to 4 September 2022. All consultation responses are currently being carefully considered.