Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the report entitled Highways England’s approach to delivering schemes through its ring-fenced funds, published in February 2018, whether the overall performance of the Highways England Air Quality Fund remains rated as red.

The red rating in the report prepared for the Office of Rail & Road (ORR) recognised the lack of available effective options (at that time) for mitigating poor air quality. Since then, Highways England have been undertaking an extensive programme of air quality research, and have identified large barriers, overhanging part of the carriageway, as a potentially effective measure.

Highways England have also developed an outline implementation programme. Drawing on the Air Quality Designated Fund, based substantially on the provision of these barriers in specific locations.