3. Statement by the Minister for Environment: Air Quality

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:57 pm on 24 April 2018.

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Photo of Hannah Blythyn Hannah Blythyn Labour 2:57, 24 April 2018

Thank you. I welcome the Member's contribution, and also, in particular, he came up with a number of important suggestions, which is why, I think, there's such a consensus and this is such an important issue. I would encourage all Members to feed into the plans and the consultation to make sure that we do include, as you rightly say, the importance of taking people with us. That's why we have cross-Government working, and across governments. So, local authorities working with Public Health Wales and the health boards, as well as with the Welsh Government and the UK Government as well. Because, of course, we want to encourage people to have this modal shift, but there's no point doing that unless we're joining up to make sure there's somewhere for them to shift to. And I think you're absolutely right to link the role of digital technology in this and the difference that can make, in terms of the website and with the national assessment and monitoring centre. And I think I mentioned in this place before the role of schools and education, and I think we've talked before about the role for eco-schools and the monitoring projects that some of them will be doing. If they find levels of exceedance near the school, then they can come up with their own plans for how they tackle that, which helps with that educational and behavioural change for them—encouraging the parents and the adults to do the same.

We're looking in terms of clean air zones, and I think Member has mentioned this before, in terms of around schools as well and speed limits. And within the consultation, within the framework for clean air zones, there is the ability, should you wish to, to lower speed limits in certain areas as well.