Diolch, Llywydd. I'm grateful to Members for tabling this, the latest in a series of debates on air quality. It's a subject that we've all said before, and I as Minister for Environment have said, is a top priority not just for me in my own portfolio but across Government as well. I think today's debate sponsored by Members from all parties is a testament to the consensus we have in this place and in Wales on the need to take action, and we must take action across sectors to reduce the impacts of air pollution on both the health of our communities, our environment and our economy.

I support the motion as originally tabled. The Welsh Government marked the first Clean Air Day last year with the publication of statutory guidance for local authorities, reshaping the air quality management duties in the context of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. Today's debate to mark the second Clean Air Day tomorrow provides a platform for us to promote Clean Air Day and to encourage awareness and involvement both within this place but outside it as well. I think we are all in agreement that this must go beyond simply a day and we must sustain the interest generated through Clean Air Day in the activity around it and ensure not only that it stays at the forefront of people's thoughts but more importantly informs all of our actions.

Reducing public exposure to air pollution is one of Wales's national well-being and public health outcomes framework indicators. Earlier this year, we issued guidance with Public Health Wales to the NHS. This acknowledges that the NHS in Wales makes a contribution at local, regional and national levels to dealing with air pollution risks. The guidance includes action to support the assessment and mitigation of air pollution and its associated health risks and also provides information on behaviour change using the planning system and improving environmental sustainability and managing public health risk.

Our local air quality management guidance to local authorities states that nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter are the pollutants of primary concern from a human health perspective. We are clear that we must achieve compliance with legal limits, but actually this is about going much further and striving to reduce levels of these pollutants across the board. Our consultation on 'Planning Policy Wales' reiterates these points.

The local air quality management guidance also identifies the role of schools in tackling air quality. The first is a contribution we've heard much of today about the school run. Like David Melding says, it seems to be a modern phenomenon. When I went to school, the school run to me was actually me running away from my mum on the way home rather than cars around schools, so we need to look at how we tackle traffic congestion and air pollution, particularly during term-time rush hours.