PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Air Pollution (5 February 2019)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the (a) devolved Administrations and (b) local authority leaders to ensure the continuation of clean air policy across the UK in the event of the UK leaving the EU.

Asked by:
Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat)

Statutory air quality targets for 2020 and 2030 are already in place. We continue to work with Devolved Administrations and Local Authorities to deliver the measures to meet these UK targets.

Under the Withdrawal Act, the Government has made Statutory Instruments which make necessary technical amendments to EU air quality legislation (in particular The Air Quality (Miscellaneous Amendment and Revocation of Retained Direct EU Legislation) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 and The Air Quality (Amendment of Domestic Regulations) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019). These ensure continuity without changing any of the substantive requirements, or reducing air quality standards.

The UK is also a signatory to the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution.

Answered by:
Dr Thérèse Coffey (Conservative)
13 February 2019