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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the efficacy of legally binding targets for reducing air pollutants; and if he will make a statement.

Targets play an important role in driving action to reduce emissions from pollution sources to improve air quality. This is why we have committed to setting a new long term target for PM_2.5 in our Clean Air Strategy, in addition to meeting our 2020 and 2030 emissions ceilings under the EU National Emission Ceilings Directive. We will publish evidence soon on what action would be needed to meet WHO guidelines.