In fact, only yesterday, a study reported in The Times found that air pollution causes more deaths than the total from wars, malaria, AIDS and smoking put together. Referring to the fire at Kronospan, in the days that followed, as you might know, the new MP, Simon Baynes, for Clwyd South had an eight-hour surgery with residents there discussing their concerns about the air quality problems they'd experienced following the fire—not just people in Chirk, but also the surrounding area. He also met the council, the chief executive, Kronospan, the town council and so on.

A typical e-mail I got from a constituent about this: 'I live three miles away and have been affected by the smoke even with windows closed.' That was three days after the fire started. The people of Chirk need answers and assurance that all the issues at Kronospan will be taken seriously. We need independent, regular, unannounced visits to monitor air pollution.

I contacted Natural Resources Wales and I did get a helpful response. They reconfirmed that the complication is caused by the regulation being split between themselves and Wrexham council, and that although they put in a request at the multi-agency meeting for temporary air-monitoring equipment, it's down to the council to continue with longer term air monitoring in Chirk.

So, can you confirm when the split regulation is due to end, which in previous correspondence on behalf of Chirk residents I understand is planned for, and also how you respond to the call for independent, regular, unannounced visits to monitor air pollution in and around Chirk?