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Respiratory Diseases: Fires

Asked by Ben MaguireLiberal DemocratDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 8 September 2025UIN 72088

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the NHS of treating health conditions linked to exposure to domestic bonfire smoke in areas with high rates of respiratory illness.

Answered by Ashley Dalton

Local authorities have a duty to monitor and review air quality in their areas. The Environment Agency manages the United Kingdom's national monitoring sites on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

No specific assessment of the cost has been made. It is not possible to determine the specific impact of domestic bonfire smoke from other similar pollutant sources.

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