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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether local authorities are required to consider the potential implications for air quality when making decisions on (a) permanent and (b) temporary transport schemes.

Local authorities have a critical role in achieving improvements in air quality. Under the Local Air Quality Management system, local authorities are required to review and assess air quality in their areas. They consider sources of pollution, including from transport . They designate Air Quality Management Areas and put in place Air Quality Action Plans to address air pollution issues where national air quality objectives are not being met.