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

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:45 pm on 18 June 2019.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 4:45, 18 June 2019

Thank you, John Griffiths, for those questions. I have asked officials, because I think you've asked me a couple of times around taxi fleets, and I have asked officials to look specifically at Calor Gas and to see where else in the world they are used to be able to inform that.

Smoking in public places, no, it doesn't come within my remit, but, as I said, this is a matter for every member of the Government, so I'll ensure that the Minister for Health and Social Services hears your comments. For those of us who don't suffer with respiratory disease, smoke—certainly the change, and obviously Wales was the first country to ban smoking in enclosed places, and we now accept that as completely normal, whereas not that long ago when you went into a pub, for instance, smoking was allowed and the impact it must have had on so many of us—.

In relation to schools, I think you raise a really important point and, also, around behavioural change. The primary school that you mention from your own constituency is clearly a good example of that. If we think how we started raising public awareness and behavioural change around recycling, for instance, and climate change, it's with young people, so I think this is an excellent example of the school run, for want of a better word. Certainly, we know that the school run has a significant contribution in relation to levels of air pollution and traffic congestion on our roads within many school catchment areas, and that's certainly during the term-time rush-hour, as you alluded to. I think there's also the potential, going back to that behavioural change that is needed, for schools to help educate both children and parents on the issues around air quality and help us explore potential solutions, such as car sharing and if there are no-idling policies also on and around school grounds. So, we do give statutory guidance to local authorities, because we do recognise that schools and active travel routes, amongst others, are sort of sensitive receptor locations.