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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to undertake a consultation exercise on changes to the Local Air Quality Management framework.

Defra plans to consult this year on policy changes to the Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) framework, to minimise bureaucracy and reporting burdens, shifting the focus to taking action to clean up local air through strong collaborative local partnerships; and driving stronger local action on reducing particulate matter emissions.

We will also encourage greater public transparency about local air quality to empower local citizens and their air quality decision-makers in their local communities, and provide stronger incentives for local authorities to use their tools and powers.