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 have been (a) declared and (b) revoked in (i) 2022 and (ii) 2023.

While local authorities are encouraged to inform Defra of any changes to smoke control areas, they are only required to notify us if they are varying or revoking a smoke control area created before 13th November 1980 as such changes must be confirmed by Defra Secretary of State.

Defra is not aware of any smoke control areas being created or revoked in 2022. In 2023 approval was given to revoke 119 smoke control areas. We were notified of the intent to introduce 2 smoke control areas which both consolidated and expand on previous smoke control areas.