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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has plans to create zero-emissions zones around primary and secondary schools.

The Government published the air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) on 17 July 2017. This sets out the Government’s approach to reducing concentrations of NO₂ across the UK. The plan states that due to the highly localised nature of the problem, local knowledge will be crucial to solving pollution problems in these hotspots. The Government has therefore provided an additional £255 million in funding to help these local authorities develop plans which will deliver targeted action to address pollution hot spots, including areas surrounding schools if necessary.

There are a range of measures local authorities can implement as part of their plans such as retrofitting buses or changing road layouts, including introducing Clean Air Zones should they consider this an appropriate solution. Local authorities already have the powers required to introduce Clean Air Zones under the Transport Act 2000. A framework was published in May this year which provides guidance on the approach local authorities should take to the introduction of Clean Air Zones.