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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason local authorities have no direct responsibility to control PM2.5 concentrations; and if she will make a statement.

Local authorities do have a role to play in tackling fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and this was introduced through statutory guidance published last April. It requires local authorities to work towards reducing emissions and concentrations of PM_2.5 in their local area alongside measures to tackle other pollutants.

Local authorities do have powers available to them to help tackle key sources of PM such as those to establish Smoke Control Areas and on transport.

The Public Health Outcomes Framework also includes an indicator based on PM_2.5 impacts on mortality. This was introduced to support local authority public health professionals and air quality managers to appraise PM2.5 levels in their area.