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Defra's Urban Quality of Life Minister Alun Michael today announced the appointment of five new members to the Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards.

Dr Jonathan Grigg, Professor Frank Kelly, Dr Alison Searl, Mr John Stedman and Ms Ann Davison, a lay member, have been appointed to the Panel.

Dr Peter Baxter, Professor Dick Derwent and Professor Roy Harrison, who have served on the panel for ten years, have been reappointed.

The Panel, made up of independent medical and scientific experts, advises the Government and devolved administrations on air quality standards.

The Panel's main functions include giving advice on non-occupational ambient air quality standards, advice on air quality standards and identifying gaps in the knowledge needed for standard setting.

Set up in 1991, the Panel has made recommendations for a range of air quality standards covered by the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

As well as its advisory role, the Panel will recommend environmental quality guidelines for the use by the Environment Agency in licensing releases from major industrial processes.

The Panel is chaired by Professor Stephen Holgate of Southampton University. Minister Alun Michael said:

"I am pleased to announce the appointment of five new members to this important advisory Panel. I also welcome Ms Ann Davison as a lay member who will ensure that the interests of non-specialists are taken into account, particularly in the way the Panel communicates its recommendations.

"I am confident that the Panel will be a lively, productive and independently-minded group. The Panel resumes its work this Spring. It will initially focus on recommending environmental quality guidelines for the use by the Environment Agency in licensing releases from major industrial processes. It will also advise on air quality standards as part of my Department's review of the Air Quality Strategy due to start this year. I look forward to the Panel's reports."

Notes for editors

1. The Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards is an advisory Non-Departmental Public Body and a Jointly Established Body under the Scotland Act 1998.

2. Further information on EPAQS can be found on the Panel's website at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/aqs/index.htm. Information on these pages will include the dates, agendas, and minutes of meetings as they become available, a list of the members, the Register of Interests, and draft and final reports as they become available.

3. Ministers appointed Professor Stephen Holgate from the University of Southampton as the Panel's chair in November 2002.

4. Members appointment have been made in accordance with the guidelines from the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/quango/index.htm) and an Independent Assessor was involved in the process.

5. Air Quality Strategy

The latest air quality strategy, published in January 2000, is part of the UK Government's and devolved administrations' aim to improve the quality of life across the UK. It sets targets for reducing levels of nine important air pollutants and ways in which everyone, from individuals to big business, can play in improving air quality.

Biographical Notes

Chairman

Professor Stephen Holgate BSc, MD, DSc, FRCP, FRCPE, CBiol, FIBiol, FRSA, FMedSci is currently a Medical Research Council Clinical Professor at the University of Southampton with a special interest in asthma and allergies.

New Members

Dr Alison Searl has a BSc and PhD in Geology and a Masters in Environmental Studies. She taught in the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Birmingham for seven years before starting at the IOM in 1993 as section head for the analytical lab. Her responsibilities subsequently expanded to include environmental consultancy and has been a member of the IOM board since 2002. She undertakes consultancy and research in health impact assessment for airborne contaminants in both the general environment and the workplace.

Mr John Stedman is a Principal Air Quality Consultant at NETCEN (part of AEA Technology plc) and leads a team responsible for data analysis, pollution climate mapping and air quality policy analysis. He has a BA in Chemistry from Wadham College, Oxford.

Dr Jonathan Grigg BSc, MD, MRCP, FRCPCH, is a Senior Lecturer in Paediatric Respiratory Medicine in the Department of Child Health at the University of Leicester, and an Honorary Paediatric Consultant at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.

Professor Frank J Kelly holds the chair in Environmental Health at King's College London, where he is Director of the Environmental Research and Lung Biology Groups. From these dual positions he is able to combine his two main research interests, namely free radical/antioxidant biochemistry and the impact of atmospheric pollution on human health.

Ms Ann Davison, a lay member, is a well known advocate for consumers who started her career at Which? magazine and went on to lead the UK consumer movement on European policy as Secretary of Consumers in Europe Group. Ann is Manager of Foodaware; the Consumers' Food Group, which represents UK consumer, women's and enforcement organisations on food standards.

Reappointed Members

Dr Peter Baxter MD, MSc, FRCP, FFOM. Is currently a Consultant Physician in Occupational and Environmental Medicine in the University of Cambridge and Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge.

Professor Dick Derwent OBE is Honorary Professor in School of Geography and Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham and Visiting Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Technology at Imperial College London Faculty of Life Sciences. He was awarded the OBE in January 2001 in recognition of his contribution to atmospheric chemistry research at the Met Office.

Professor Roy Harrison, B.Sc., Ph.D., D.Sc., F.R.S.C., C.Chem., F.R.Met.S., Hon. M.F.P.H.M., Hon F.F.O.M. has occupied the Chair of Environmental Health at the University of Birmingham since 1991. He is Head of the Division of Environmental Health and Risk Management and leads a large research group focussing on air pollution issues from emissions, through atmospheric transformations, to effects on human health.

The Panel's existing members are Professor J G Ayres BSc., MD., FRCP, Professor Ross Anderson, MD, MSc, FFPHM, Dr John W Cherrie BSc, PhD, FBIOH, Dr Anne E. Cockcroft MD, FRCP, FFOM, Professor Peter Blain and Professor David Shuker.

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