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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to improve air quality in (a) Greater Manchester and (b) the UK.

The Government is committed to improving air quality in the UK. Between 2010 and 2014, emissions of nitrogen oxides fell by 17 per cent. The Government has committed over £2 billion since 2011 to increase the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles, support green transport initiatives and support local authorities to take action. The UK currently meets the legal limits for almost all pollutants. We will continue to do more, especially to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).

We are mandating five cities with the most persistent NO₂ pollution problems to introduce Clean Air Zones. Other local authorities will also need to monitor progress on NO₂ reduction and ensure the measures they are taking deliver results as soon as possible. All local authorities have powers to introduce Clean Air Zones should they choose to do so. We are currently consulting on a framework for Clean Air Zones which will assist local authorities in taking a consistent approach to their adoption.

Alongside national action, local authorities have a crucial role to play in improving air quality in their areas. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority has declared an Air Quality Management Area to target pollution hotspots, and put in place an action plan with measures promoting sustainable transport.

Since 2010 a total of £168,450 in air quality grant funding has been awarded to local authorities in the Greater Manchester area supporting projects aimed at improving air quality in the region. Defra’s Air Quality Grant fund is a bid-in scheme to support local authorities to improve air quality. Application for this year’s fund remains open until 23 November.