Asked by: Andrew Bridgen (Independent - North West Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to publish the Government's 25-year plan for the natural environment.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
We aim to publish a consultation on our ambitions for the 25 year environment plan and the plan itself in due course.
Asked by: Andrew Bridgen (Independent - North West Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding and resources the Government has made available to cities that have been mandated to establish a clean air zone; and how much such funding she plans to contribute towards health awareness campaigns on those zones.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
In addition to committing £2bn to support greener transport initiatives since 2011, Defra has allocated funding to help five cities in England outside London implement Clean Air Zones and meet new burdens associated with implementing the zones.
On 6 October this year the Government launched its Air Quality Grant for 2016-17, which will be at least £3m - significantly larger than the last three years. This is in recognition of the urgent need to support action on air quality and deliver the Government’s commitment to comply with the legal air pollution standards in the shortest time possible.
Defra also works closely with the Department for Health, Public Health England, and their advisors the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants. Health awareness campaigns in the five cities outside London will be for the local authorities to decide on, based on their understanding of local needs.
Asked by: Andrew Bridgen (Independent - North West Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the Government will recommend that local authorities who are establishing clean air zones should prioritise (a) schools, (b) hospitals and (c) other areas which vulnerable people frequent.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
Local authorities are responsible for designing their Clean Air Zone in a way which will be the most effective for their area. The Zones will provide targeted action in areas where it is most needed, potentially including schools, hospitals, or other areas vulnerable people frequent.
On 13 October we launched a consultation inviting views on the draft Clean Air Zone Framework, which will provide a consistent approach to the implementation of the Zones. It sets out potential action under three themes: immediate action to improve air quality and health, supporting local growth and ambition, and accelerating the transition to a low emission economy.
Officials from the Defra/Department for Transport Joint Air Quality Unit have been working in close partnership with the five cities where a Clean Air Zone is being mandated to help deliver an effective and efficient tailored solution for each city. Each of the five cities will conduct a feasibility study to determine a scheme which will achieve the reductions needed in nitrogen dioxide levels within the required timeframe. These schemes will also be agreed by the relevant local authority and the Secretary of State.
Asked by: Andrew Bridgen (Independent - North West Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what amount her Department expects to pay in penalties and disallowances required by the EU Commission in relation to air pollution in 2016-17; and what contingency has been made for that purpose in her Department's budget.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The Department does not expect to pay any penalties and disallowances imposed by the EU Commission in relation to air pollution in 2016-2017.
The Commission has started infraction proceedings against the UK for not achieving European limit values for NO2. We want to work in partnership with Local Authorities and the Commission to improve air quality and avoid any prospect of fines levied from infraction. In December 2015, the Government published air quality plans setting out a comprehensive approach for meeting EU legal limits in the shortest possible time through a new programme of Clean Air Zones, alongside national action and continued investment in clean technologies. The UK has never had to pay an infraction fine.