The Air Quality Limit Values Regulations 2001

Public information

13.—(1) The Secretary of State shall ensure that up-to-date information on ambient concentrations of each of the relevant pollutants is routinely made available to the public.

(2) Information on ambient concentations of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter shall be updated—

(a) in the case of hourly values for sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, where practicable on an hourly basis;

(b) in all other cases, as a minimum on a daily basis.

(3) Information on ambient concentrations of lead shall be updated on a three-monthly basis.

(4) Information made available under paragraph (1) shall include—

(a) an indication of the extent to which limit values and alert thresholds for relevant pollutants have been exceeded over the averaging periods specified in Schedule 1; and

(b) a short assessment of those exceedances and their effects on health.

(5) When an alert threshold is exceeded, the Secretary of State shall ensure that the necessary steps are taken to inform the public, and the information made available shall as a minimum include the information specified in paragraphs 1.3 of Part I and 2.3 of Part II of Schedule 1.

(6) Information to be made available to the public under this regulation shall include the map mentioned in the definition of “zone” in regulation 2 and action plans, plans and programmes prepared under regulations 8 and 9 respectively.

(7) For the purposes of this regulation, the public includes, but is not limited to, health care bodies and organisations having an interest in ambient air quality and representing the interests of sensitive populations, consumers and the environment.

(8) Information made available under this regulation shall be clear, comprehensible and accessible.