Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of low emission zones as a means of tackling air pollution in urban areas.

The 2017 Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂) plan sets out the actions Government is taking to deliver compliance with legal limits for NO₂ in the shortest possible time. This includes a national-level assessment of the potential impact of charging Clean Air Zones in achieving this objective.

As a result of the plan, Government continues to support a number of local authorities to produce local plans that identify and implement measures to tackle NO₂ exceedances in their areas. These plans must be supported by suitable evidence to demonstrate the type of intervention required, and whether this needs to include a Clean Air Zone.

Local Authorities have existing powers to implement charging zones as a means of achieving air quality and other environmental objectives where they deem this to be appropriate.