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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of air quality around schools in Coventry; and if he will make a statement.

Local authorities have a statutory responsibility to review and assess local ambient air quality, and are responsible for mitigation of air pollution where people are likely to be exposed, such as at schools.

Defra provides guidance and support to local authorities on monitoring; positioning of monitors is expected to be in line with national and local priorities, and may include schools and other locations where there is high risk of public exposure.

Coventry City Council monitor for both NO₂ and PM_2.5. The council has declared an Air Quality Management Area for exceedances in levels on NO₂ and have been updating their action plan to improve air quality in the city.

Government is working closely with 61 English local authorities, including Coventry City Council, and has placed legal duties on them – underpinned by £495 million in funding – to tackle their nitrogen dioxide exceedances.