VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Nitrogen Dioxide: Pollution Control

Asked by Tim FarronLiberal DemocratDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 28 April 2025UIN 45557

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39816 on Nitrogen Dioxide: Pollution Control, in which year the (a) West Midlands urban area, (b) Bristol urban area, (c) Sheffield urban area and (d) the Potteries are expected to become compliant.

Answered by Emma Hardy

Predicting when locations will comply with the annual mean limit value for nitrogen dioxide is inherently uncertain. Our current estimates reflect the impact of agreed local Clean Air Plans and are based on 2023 data from Defra’s national monitoring networks and national modelling, as well as local authority-owned air quality monitoring and modelling. 2023 is the most recent year of fully ratified monitoring data available. As additional years of data become available or where additional measures are agreed some of these predictions are likely to change. Current estimates for when the following reporting zones will become compliant are:

West Midlands Urban Area

2032

Bristol Urban Area

2031

Sheffield Urban Area

2031

The Potteries

2032

South East

2028

West Yorkshire Urban Area

2029

Coventry and Bedworth

2026

Liverpool Urban Area

2029

Greater London Urban Area

2024

Greater Manchester Urban Area

2026

Nottingham Urban Area

2024

Portsmouth Urban Area

2026

Reading and Wokingham Urban Area

2024

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim