Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will provide details of engagements he (a) has had and (b) plans to have with representatives of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority regarding the implementation of the Clean Air Zone in Greater Manchester; and what additional economic transitional support the Government plans to bring forward to support businesses, in the context of the effect of covid-19 on the supply of new vehicles.
We have regular engagement with Transport for Greater Manchester and the Greater Manchester Councils on the implementation of the Clean Air Plan at all levels, and are continuing to do so.
We have provided a substantial £132 million from the Clean Air Fund to Greater Manchester authorities to help businesses and individuals upgrade to compliant vehicles. This is on top of providing £36 million to enable the implementation of the Clean Air Zone. The HGV support scheme has recently opened for applications but the remaining funds have not yet been spent. We are aware that Greater Manchester has proposed a review of funds and we continue to engage with them on the evidence.