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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they plan to take to introduce clean air zones in cities in the north of England which have been identified by Defra as having high pollution levels such as Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield.

Local authorities can already introduce Clean Air Zones should they choose to do so using powers available to them under the Transport Act 2000. The air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide we published in December last year sets out a range of actions being taken by local authorities to reduce pollution. Under the plan we are requiring five cities with the most persistent pollution problems, including Leeds, to introduce Clean Air Zones. The plan is also clear that other local authorities will need to monitor progress and ensure the measures they are taking under local air quality management arrangements are delivering results as soon as possible. We are currently consulting on a framework for Clean Air Zones which will assist local authorities in taking a consistent approach to their adoption.

We are also continuing to encourage local authorities, including those in the north of England, to improve air quality. The air quality grant fund announced on 6 October will further support local authorities in England to develop and implement measures to improve local air quality, potentially including exploring the need for Clean Air Zones. For example, Transport for Greater Manchester is currently undertaking a feasibility study into a Clean Air Zone following a successful bid into the previous round of air quality grant funding.