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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to speed up action on illegal levels of air pollution in advance of the case being pursued by the European Commission at the European Court of Justice.

The UK continues to meet statutory limit values for all pollutants apart from nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), which 21 other EU Member States are also failing to meet. Where we are exceeding, data shows that we are improving thanks to our efforts to bring levels of NO₂ down. Emissions of toxic nitrogen oxides, which cause NO₂ pollution, have fallen by almost 27% between 2010 and 2016 and are at their lowest level since records began.

However, we recognise there is more to do. That is why we have put in place a £3.5billion plan to reduce harmful emissions and tackle NO₂ hotspots in the shortest possible time. This includes nearly £1.5billion between April 2015 and March 2021 to support the uptake of ultra-low emissions vehicles, £1.2billion for the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy to increase cycling and walking and make our roads safer for vulnerable users, and £475million to help local authorities develop and implement local air quality plans. We have also committed to ending the sale of conventional new diesel and petrol cars and vans from 2040, and this week we are making tough new regulations to ensure that manufacturers who supply vehicles designed to cheat emissions tests will be held to account.

Defra and the Department for Transport have been working closely with 61 English local authorities to help develop and deliver specific solutions to NO₂ exceedances. We have issued these local authorities with Ministerial directions to ensure that they live up to their shared responsibilities, and have made available almost £500million in funding to allow them to do so, alongside providing guidance and support.

We also recently published a new Clean Air Strategy for consultation which aims to cut air pollution and save lives. This comprehensive strategy sets out how we will tackle all sources of air pollution, making our air healthier to breathe, protecting nature and boosting the economy.