Written question asked by Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative) on Tuesday, 9 December 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 December 2003. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Thursday, 18 December 2003 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what targets her Department has set to reduce the levels of nitrogen dioxide by (a) 2005 and (b) 2010.

Answer: Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets her Department has set to reduce the levels of nitrogen dioxide by (a) 2005 and (b) 2010. [143823] Mr. Bradshaw: The national Air Quality Strategy, published in 2000, sets a one hour mean air quality objective for nitrogen dioxide of 200 micrograms per cubic metre not be exceeded more than 18 times per year and an annual mean of 40 micrograms per cubic metre, both to be achieved by 31 December 2005. These objectives, together with objectives for six other air pollutants, are prescribed in the Air Quality (England) Regulations 2000. Local authorities are required to review and assess the objectives and, where these are unlikely to be met, to work towards the achievement. European Council Directive 99/30/EC sets similar limit values for nitrogen dioxide which members states are required to achieve by 2010. The limit values have been implemented by the Air Quality Limit Values Regulations 2003.

Secondary information