4. Statement by the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs: Clean Air

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:30 pm on 18 June 2019.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 4:30, 18 June 2019

Thank you, Andrew, for those questions and comments. Specifically, Cardiff and Caerphilly have very specific concerns around air pollution and I know my officials have been working very closely, not just since I've been in portfolio but when Hannah Blythyn was the Minister for Environment, to address those concerns. We've helped fund their feasibility studies and they are reporting to me by the end of the month.

You mentioned Port Talbot specifically, and obviously we have been doing a great deal of work to understand the issues in the area around air quality. So far this year, monitored levels of particulate matter across all the monitoring sites that we have in Port Talbot have not triggered action through the short-term action plan we have there and do remain within reasonable limits. But again, I think it's really important that we keep on top of that, so I've asked my officials to re-examine that short term action plan to ensure it's still the best way of tackling poor air quality in Port Talbot.

You mentioned the five 50 mph sites. This is a really interesting thing that we brought forward. I actually have one in my own constituency, so obviously I know that one the best. I'm waiting to hear what the outcome is of that 50 mph zone. My concern is that people are not keeping to it. I'm going along at 50 mph and people are overtaking me, I would say, all the time. I think one of the areas where I do have concerns—and this will be addressed when we bring the five sites forward on a permanent basis—is that people don't understand why they are 50 mph sites. So, I think we need signs saying, 'Poor air quality kills, reduce your speed.' So, we're working on that signage, because certainly I've heard people say in Wrexham that they think it's because of speed and why aren't the police enforcing it. So, I think we need to make the public aware of why we're bringing those 50 mph sites in—why we've brought them in, sorry—and why we're going to make them permanent.

In relation to the UK Government, I'm very happy to learn from the UK Government when they're bringing forward ideas and schemes that would help us, and we certainly engage with them on relevant matters in relation to air quality, because as you'll be aware, Welsh Ministers do have limited executive functions. If you think about regulation of construction, for instance, which obviously impacts on this, the equipment of motor vehicles, vehicle specification standards, for instance—so, we are working with the UK Government. 

You're quite right about world health guidelines. Certainly, I've asked—I think I mentioned in my statement that I have asked officials to look at them. I think they're about 50 per cent more stringent than EU levels. So, it's certainly something that I've asked officials to look at, and I'm waiting for further advice on that point. 

You asked about the clean air Act—that was a commitment from the First Minister in his manifesto—and you were asking about the timescale. We are going to consult on a clean air plan for Wales in the autumn and the plan will set out the key pollutants and their effects on public health and, of course, our environment. It will include measures to achieve compliance with all legislative requirements. That will then inform what we bring forward in an Act.

So, I can't give you a timescale, but certainly the First Minister is committed to bringing that forward as soon as possible. I think the point that you make about cross-party agreement—if any legislation process is easy, I think you're right; this could be something that we could look at. I think I would have to update you on the timescale following the consultation in the autumn.