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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to ensure that air quality levels in (a) Wallasey and (b) the North West remain lower than they were prior to the covid-19 outbreak.

Our ambitious plans to improve air quality and support more active forms of travel have not changed, including the £3.8 billion we are already investing to clean up our air. Our recent rapid call for evidence will ensure we can fully understand the impact that coronavirus is having on changes to air pollution emissions, concentrations and exposure.

On 9 May, the Government announced a £2 billion funding package for cycling and walking: the largest ever investment in active travel. This includes £250 million to be spent in the current financial year on measures to get people cycling and walking, such as pop-up bike lanes, wider pavements, safer junctions, and cycle and bus-only corridors and a bike repair voucher scheme.

Local authorities already have a range of powers to take action to reduce pollution from road vehicles. Through the Environment Bill we are improving co-operation within the Local Air Quality Management framework to widen the range of bodies that play a role in improving local air quality, including neighbouring local authorities and relevant public bodies, ensuring action is taken by all key players to tackle pollution sources and to improve air quality locally.

Additionally we are working hard to implement our world-leading Clean Air Strategy, which focuses on reducing broader emissions beyond road transport.