Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting me about air quality in Scotland.
Although international air quality commitments have been agreed at a UK level, air quality is a substantially devolved policy area. I am aware that the Scottish Government has therefore produced its own Air Quality Strategy which sets out how Scotland intends to deliver further air quality improvements over the coming years.
While the WHO described the UK’s Clean Air Strategy as “'an example for the rest of the world to follow,” an independent review of the Scottish Government’s strategy found that while it appeared to have had a positive impact, its action programme has “an overly complex structure, is not yet wholly implemented or widely understood, has had insufficient authority and now needs more focus and energetic and aligned implementation.” It is now important that work is undertaken to address this issue.
Although the UK Government’s Environment Bill will establish long-term legally binding targets on air quality in England and Wales, it is up to the Scottish Government to replicate this in Scotland. I would encourage the Scottish Government to not only maintain environmental standards set by the EU, but enhance them.
Given the transboundary nature of air pollution, close partnership-working between the nations of the UK is essential. I am pleased that the Governments in Westminster and Holyrood are working together to manage transboundary air pollution and improve air quality right across the UK.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Kind regards, Alister