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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the effect of the absence of a mass transit system in Leeds on the number of PM2.5 particles in the air in that city.

Any proposals for transport infrastructure projects need to be assessed from a local transport and planning perspective. Defra has no plans to conduct an air quality impact assessment.

The Government is, however, committed to reducing public exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution as outlined in the Clean Air Strategy 2019 and this will require reductions in emissions from a wide range of sectors.

In addition, we continue to work with Leeds City Council to improve air quality in the city, including providing £29 million to put in place a Clean Air Zone.