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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many smoke control areas cover (a) urban areas and (b) rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs. However, the majority of smoke control areas are urban areas, and our best estimate is that around 40% of urban areas in England and Wales (according to the 2011 Census) are covered by a Smoke Control Order.

Accurate Smoke Control Area information is held by each relevant Local Authority and further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/smoke-control-area-rules.