Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to meet the air pollution targets set out in the EU's 2008 ambient air quality directive.

Tackling air pollution is a priority for the Government. The UK currently meets the legal limits for almost all pollutants except nitrogen dioxide (NO2), but we recognise that further work is still needed, particularly to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in some towns and cities. Poor air quality is the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK.

That is why we have committed more than £2 billion to increase the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) and support greener transport schemes. In addition, the Chancellor announced a further £290 million to support electric vehicles, low emission buses and taxis, and alternative fuels in the 2016 Autumn Statement.

The Government established the Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) between the Department for Transport and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in 2016 to deliver the National Air Quality Plan for NO₂, which was published in December 2015.

In light of both updated information on real world emissions from diesel vehicles and the High Court judgement last year, we will be publishing a revised air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide shortly. The consultation will address the measures needed to reduce nitrogen dioxide concentrations.

In addition, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is developing a new UK air quality strategy. This is to tackle the five main pollutants: sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds, ammonia and fine particulate matter. The UK has agreed legally binding national ceilings for emissions of these pollutants by 2020 and 2030. The Government is considering how all sectors of the UK economy can contribute to these ambitious targets.