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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on local authority obligations under an Air Quality Area Action Plan.

Defra engages regularly with the Department for Communities and Local Government on air quality matters, including on the revision of the Local Air Quality Management policy guidance (available at):

https://consult.defra.gov.uk/communications/laqm_changes/supporting_documents/LAQM%20Policy%20Guidance%202016.pdf)

which incorporates advice on Air Quality Action Plans (Chapter 5) and the National Planning Policy Framework (Chapter 9, para 124). The Framework is available at: http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/blog/policy/.