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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 26 April 2025
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Displaying 2643 contributions

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Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Air Quality

Meeting date: 18 April 2023

Mark Ruskell

Perhaps I should put it the other way around, because it seems that you are all working on delivery groups and that they are well established as part of your approach. Is it possible to have an effective approach without a delivery group? I ask that because there are councils in Scotland that have not set up delivery groups, even though they have AQMAs in place.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Air Quality

Meeting date: 18 April 2023

Mark Ruskell

Do you want to add anything on monitoring?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Air Quality

Meeting date: 18 April 2023

Mark Ruskell

I have a supplementary question for Gary Fuller about a technical issue with monitoring. When I looked at the air pollution data for Perth for the past week, I noticed that, if we average out the air pollution data over a week, it comes in under the limit value, but if we look at particular times of the day, we can see that it spikes quite strongly. Are there issues with the way in which we collate and interpret air quality data in this country?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Air Quality

Meeting date: 18 April 2023

Mark Ruskell

That leads me on to my next question, which is about those Environmental Standards Scotland recommendations on air quality action plans. There are recommendations on timescale, for example, and, as you say, new guidance will be coming out. What are your reflections on how achievable the timescales for completion will be? I will put that question to Kenny Bisset, because I know that Fife Council has won the award for the fastest production of an air quality action plan, for Cupar. I am not sure whether that is because issues are simpler in Cupar or whether it is down to the effectiveness of your teams and your process for developing the plan. What is your reaction to the ESS recommendation that there need to be timescales for production?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Air Quality

Meeting date: 18 April 2023

Mark Ruskell

Are there resources implications for producing a fast air quality action plan, such as the one that you have managed to achieve for Cupar?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Air Quality

Meeting date: 18 April 2023

Mark Ruskell

Is that an approach that you have chosen to take at the City of Edinburgh Council? Is there a quicker way of doing it?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Air Quality

Meeting date: 18 April 2023

Mark Ruskell

Yes, or maybe you could just say how you would approach it. The point that Gary Fuller was making is that what councils can do is map out what the pathways might look like. What is your response to that?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Air Quality

Meeting date: 18 April 2023

Mark Ruskell

Thanks.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Air Quality

Meeting date: 18 April 2023

Mark Ruskell

I am also asking about the wider issue of air quality management area reform.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Air Quality

Meeting date: 18 April 2023

Mark Ruskell

The system that we have in Scotland is one of local air quality management in local authorities. We have had quite a lot of written evidence on that. The ESS report talks about the timescales for how plans are developed, reviewed and published. Gary Fuller made comments about monitoring vulnerable people, particularly outside schools, and we have had comments from Professor Campbell Gemmell about who provides the independent oversight of air quality management areas and the plans that come from them. How can the system be improved overall? I ask Gavin Thomson to answer that first, and then anybody else who wants to comment.