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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) steps his Department is taking to ensure and (b) financial support it provides to support local authorities to meet statutory air quality requirements.

Defra provides detailed guidance to support local authorities in fulfilling their local air quality management responsibilities, as well as a dedicated helpdesk that provides 24 hour technical support and tools to local authorities.

The department wrote to 230 local authorities across England with longstanding air quality problems last November to better understand the challenges they face and to press for further action. The information provided by these local authorities is helping to inform government policy and to strengthen our joint efforts to improve air quality across the UK.

In March Defra, along with Public Health England and the Local Government Association, published the Air Quality Briefing for Directors of Public Health. This provides easily accessed information on the health impacts of air pollution along with extensive guidance on understanding, communicating and tackling the issue in local areas.

In July the Government published the UK plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations. We have put in place a £3.5 billion plan to clean up the air and reduce harmful vehicle emissions. This includes the £255 million implementation fund already announced by the Government to support local authorities to prepare their plans and deliver targeted action to improve air quality. In addition, as part of the budget, the Chancellor confirmed a further £220 million of new funding for a clean air fund, which will support local authorities with the biggest air quality challenge to support people and businesses to adapt as measures to improve air quality are implemented.

Defra’s annual Air Quality Grant Programme was introduced in 1997 to support local authorities in carrying out their air quality duties. Over £55m has been allocated to local measures such as low emission strategies, promotion of clean vehicle technology and communications campaigns. We have just launched this year’s grant offer providing £2m for local authorities to bid into.