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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Liverpool City Region Mayor on tackling air pollution in the Liverpool City Region area.

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs attended the Clean Air Summit on 14 February with the Liverpool City Region Mayor and city leaders from across the country.

A range of issues were discussed at the Summit including the ambitious goals set out in our new Clean Air Strategy, the need to focus on reducing emissions from a variety of sources, and support for local authorities with powers and funding.

Defra officials have regular and ongoing engagement with those local authorities named in the 2017 Plan for Tackling Roadside Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations to support them in considering measures to address nitrogen dioxide exceedances in their areas, including Liverpool City Council.

Liverpool City Council have been directed to develop a local plan by 31 October 2019 and on 28 February this year presented an update on their plan to senior representatives in the Joint Air Quality Unit.

Due to the highly localised nature of the problem, local knowledge is crucial in solving pollution problems in these hotspots. Local authorities, including Liverpool, are considering a range of measures to tackle their nitrogen dioxide exceedances, including, where appropriate, charging Clean Air Zones.