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

To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the analysis by the Royal College of Physicians in their report Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air pollution, published in February 2016, that around 40,000 deaths each year are attributable to exposure to outdoor air pollution, what steps they are taking to improve air quality; and when they expect air quality to improve.

The UK has ambitious targets in place to reduce emissions of five damaging air pollutants (ammonia, nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds, fine particulate matter and sulphur dioxide) by 2020 and 2030. We have put in place a £3.5 billion plan to reduce harmful emissions from road transport, and we will end the sale of new conventional diesel and petrol cars and vans by 2040. Our new and world leading Clean Air Strategy, published on 14 January, focuses on broader emissions beyond road transport and sets goals working towards World Health Organisation recommendations on particulate matter emissions – going further than the EU requires.

Air pollution has reduced significantly since 2010 – emissions of toxic nitrogen oxides have fallen by almost 27%, and are at their lowest level since records began. However, there is more to do, and by requiring comprehensive action from all parts of government and society, we will be able to continue to cut air pollution and save lives.