Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 21 April 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 23 April 2009. It was answered by Huw Irranca-Davies (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 May 2009 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Air Pollution

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which areas in England exceeded (a) national and (b) European air quality limit values for particulates at any time in the last 12 months.

Answer: Under EU legislation, the UK is required to monitor the air continuously for levels of particulate matter (PM10) and to report to the European Commission on an annual basis. The UK also reports modelled data, in accordance with the legislation.As a result of improvements over many years the limit values are met across more than 99 per cent. of the country, delivering significant health benefits. The few remaining areas where we have reported exceedences are small. The monitoring information for 2008 remains provisional and the fully ratified data are not yet available. However, on the basis of provisional data monitored breaches of EU limit values for particulate matter are only expected to occur in London. The modelling assessment is not due to be completed until the summer.

Secondary information