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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will expand the national network of clean air zones.

The UK plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations, published in July 2017, sets out the Government’s approach to improving air quality in the shortest possible time. 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. We have put in place a £3,5 billion air quality plan, including £475 million specifically to help local authorities develop and implement their plans.

There are a range of measures local authorities can introduce, such as retrofitting buses, changing road layouts or 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 published in May 2017 provides guidance on the approach local authorities should take to the introduction of Clean Air Zones.