4. Will the Cabinet Secretary outline how local air quality measures, such as clean air zones, will be funded? OAQ53084

Improvements to local air quality are supported through a number of funding mechanisms, including a dedicated air quality fund, worth over £20 million. This can support the costs of clean air zones where identified by local authorities as the best option to deliver legal compliance with air pollutant limit values.

Thank you. I'm grateful to you, Minister, for your answer. You will be aware that air pollution contributes to about 2,000 deaths per year in Wales and has been described by Public Health Wales as an urgent public health crisis. Is the Welsh Government prepared to act to ensure that councils introduce clean air zones if local action isn't adequate or isn't timely enough in your view? And will the Government reconsider the possibility of the introduction of a clean air Act for Wales if these local clean air zones don't deliver the outcomes that we are hoping for? These are 2,000 deaths that are entirely avoidable, and I strongly support the approach of looking for local action first, but, in the end, there are some things that are so important that it needs national legislation.

Diolch. Can I thank the Member for her question? It's important that—. It's absolutely correct that this isn't just about meeting legal compliance, because it's the right thing to do to tackle poor air quality and the implications it has for people's health and well-being throughout Wales.

In terms of local authorities, I would expect all local authorities to assess the potential for what action is required to achieve reduced pollution levels and improvement in public health, and also, working with schools through the eco-schools project, to develop their own campaigns with the children and to achieve that behaviour change in the local community as well. But, obviously, there's action we're taking at Welsh Government level, which includes our clean air programme, our clean air plan and the establishment of the programme across Government.

I have been clear from the outset that this is a high priority for this Government and that we want to take action now because we know it's an immediate threat, which is why we are taking those actions that we can within the time frame that we have and the pressures on us. But, equally, I've been clear that if we take these—the clean air programme, the clean air plan, supporting local authorities to implement clean air zones and take local action—if we identify that there are gaps and we do need to legislate further, then that's certainly something that can be considered in the future.

Minister, I have to say I was a little bit disappointed that the temporary 50 mph speed limit extension to the west of Port Talbot wasn't terminated this summer, as you indicated in a speech earlier this year. Of course, I accept that Welsh Government is in a bit of a bind at the moment regarding this court case around air quality and having to reduce, particularly, traffic congestion emissions, as a result of that court case. Even so, I think we still need to get some sense of perspective here, because, obviously, there's a huge amount of industrial pollution in the Port Talbot area as well. So, I'm wondering if you can tell me how you balance funding between central and local government attempts to tackle both traffic air pollution and industrial air pollution, and, particularly, the money that you give to local authorities—how you ensure that it's actually spent on improving air quality, as the money was intended to do.

I thank the Member for her question. I know it's something that you've previously raised in this place, alongside the Member for Aberavon as well. You know there's a particular complex and complicated challenge in relation to air quality around Port Talbot, because of the historic nature of the steelworks, which is such a large employer for the area too, and also the M4. In terms of—. You recognise, in terms of the speed limit, looking at that is what we've identified as being able to meet that legal compliance in the shortest possible time frame going forward. In terms of how we look at—. You're absolutely right that to address the air quality, it's not just looking at nitrogen dioxide emissions alone; it's actually the PM particles, it's the whole suite of air quality issues in the area, which is why our clean air programme, clean air plan, will work with stakeholders and local authorities to look at that in the whole and to address that. And it's something I'm happy to follow up with the Member in more detail, should I be in a position to do so in the future as well. 

Minister, as Suzy Davies pointed out, the issues of air pollution in Port Talbot, in particular, and the hazardouz air management zone, are two-fold. It's the M4 and the traffic emissions and it's also the industrial emissions. And Suzy and I met with Welsh Government officials yesterday to discuss the M4 side. Last time I spoke to you and raised the question, you were indicating that you were going to meet with Tata to discuss the industrial side. Have you met with Tata, and if so, can you give us the details of those discussions and the outcomes?

I thank the Member for his ongoing commitment in this area. You're right: myself and the Cabinet Secretary for economy both met, not just with representatives from Tata, but with Neath Port Talbot Council and Natural Resources Wales. Part of this meeting was to look at the issue we found over the summer, in terms of, particularly, the nuisance dust as well, but also, how they might better perhaps work to communicate with local residents and build those relationships, but also, the steps that would be needed to be taken to mitigate the impact of poor air quality generated from industrial emissions in the future. That's work that is obviously ongoing. I want the short-term action plan on Port Talbot to be reviewed and to make sure that it's fit for purpose for the future, and both myself and the Cabinet Secretary for economy are keen to actually visit Tata to see first-hand what could potentially be done, and what are the biggest challenges, so to speak. So, I am happy to keep the Member updated and involved with that as well.