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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to tackle air pollution in Nottinghamshire.

This Government has taken strong action to improve air quality across the UK, including in Nottinghamshire.

On 20 November 2018, the Government approved Nottingham City Council’s plan to deliver compliance with legal limits of NO2 in the shortest possible time by retrofitting 171 buses with technology to reduce emissions (funded through the Government’s Clean Bus Technology Fund) and changing the age and emissions policy for hackney carriages and supporting an increase in low emission taxis. £1 million from the Government’s Clean Air Fund has been awarded to provide a licensing discount for drivers, a taxi rank with charging points, fund home chargers and expand the council’s ‘try before you buy’ scheme. The Government has already provided Nottingham with funding to support the conversion of the Council’s fleet.[1]

In addition to Nottingham City Council’s plan, which addresses the worst NO₂ exceedances in Nottinghamshire, the Government has provided funding for a range of initiatives across the region which will improve air quality, including:

- £1.4 million to retrofit 112 buses in Nottinghamshire County Council (Clean Bus Technology Fund)[2];

- £7.9 million to support the purchase of ultra-low emission buses and supporting infrastructure in Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council (Low Emission Bus Scheme 2015 and Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme 2018)[3]^&[4]; and

- £6.1 million to support Nottingham City Council (partnering with Nottinghamshire County Council and Derby City Council) becoming a Go Ultra Low City[5].

[1] The Government approves Nottingham’s air quality plan: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-approves-nottinghams-air-quality-plan

[2] The Government funding boost for bus industry in drive to improve air quality: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-funding-boost-for-bus-industry-in-drive-to-improve-air-quality

[3] Low Emission Bus Scheme 2015: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/541695/low-emission-bus-scheme-winning-bidders.csv/preview

[4] Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme 2018: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/774207/ultra-low-emission-bus-scheme-winning-bidders.csv/preview

[5] Go Ultra Low Nottingham: https://www.transportnottingham.com/driving/ultra-low-emission-vehicles/