Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many areas in the UK outside London reported illegal levels of air pollution in 2016.

In 2016 the South Wales zone was the only area outside London that exceeded the 1-hour limit value for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) concentration (200 µgm^-3). The remaining 41 zones and agglomerations were compliant. Six zones outside of London had locations with measured or modelled annual mean NO₂ concentrations lower than the limit value for annual mean NO₂ concentration (40 µgm^-3). These compliant zones and agglomerations were: Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton Urban Area, Blackpool Urban Area, Preston Urban Area, Highland, Scottish Borders, and Northern Ireland. The remaining 36 zones and agglomerations were non-compliant.

All zones and agglomerations within the UK were compliant with the limit values specified in the Air Quality Directive (2008/50/EC) for pollutants other than NO₂ in 2016. Details of the UK’s assessment of compliance with the Air Quality Directive (2008/50/EC) for the year 2016 is published in the Air Pollution in the UK 2016 report at:

https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/assets/documents/annualreport/air_pollution_uk_2016_issue_1.pdf

The UK Government and its counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have policy responsibility for air quality in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively.