The Secretary of State has not had any recent discussions on this subject. Energy policy is the responsibility of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ministers across Government Departments about air pollution and how to reduce it.

No estimate has been made by the Government. Local authorities are best placed to target action to improve local air quality, and are required to review and assess local air quality and to take action where there are high levels of air pollution. They have discretionary powers to restrict car access to schools and enforce anti-idling laws outside schools. In March this year Public Health England published the report Review of interventions to improve outdoor air quality and public health. This recommended that local authorities, as part of their local Review of interventions to improve outdoor air quality and public health consider a range of interventions to reduce air pollution in the vicinity of schools and reduce children’s exposure accordingly.

The Government’s Air Quality Grant Programme provides funding to local authorities for projects in local communities to tackle air pollution and reduce emissions which may include action targeting schools. The Government has awarded over £60 million in funding since the air quality grant started in 1997, including £3 million in 2018/19.

The following air quality grant award money has been allocated specifically to improve air quality around schools since 2017:

2016/17

• London Borough of Islington Local school focused awareness and engagement campaign (£50,000).
• Sheffield City Council Air Aware communications campaign (engaging local GPs, community groups and schools) (£50,000)

2017/18

• Blaby District Council Schools and SMEs behavioural change and action plan (£59,000).
• Canterbury City Council Awareness campaign in schools and community on transport and domestic burning stoves (£33,354).
• East Sussex County Council (with West Sussex, Brighton, Chichester, Horsham, Adur, Crawley, Mid Sussex, Worthing, Lewes) Action plan for schools and businesses in AQMAs (£105,900).
• Spelthorne Borough Council (Surrey Air Alliance) Awareness campaign in schools across the county (£145,188).

2018/19

• Colchester Borough Council Engagement and awareness project throughout the transport network to promote air quality awareness and transport choices in schools (£249,100)
• Hertsmere Borough Council Cleaner Air 4 Hertsmere Schools awareness project to influence travel behaviour (£37,500).
• Islington London Borough Council NO2 indoor study in school to test sensor performance and efficiency of filter systems (£20,000)
• Slough Borough Council Testing of Vaisla sensors around schools to monitor AQ and use data to promote behaviour change (£99,125).

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ministers across Government Departments about air pollution and how to reduce it.

No estimate has been made by the Government. Local authorities are best placed to target action to improve local air quality, and are required to review and assess local air quality and to take action where there are high levels of air pollution. They have discretionary powers to restrict car access to schools and enforce anti-idling laws outside schools. In March this year Public Health England published the report Review of interventions to improve outdoor air quality and public health. This recommended that local authorities, as part of their local Review of interventions to improve outdoor air quality and public health consider a range of interventions to reduce air pollution in the vicinity of schools and reduce children’s exposure accordingly.

The Government’s Air Quality Grant Programme provides funding to local authorities for projects in local communities to tackle air pollution and reduce emissions which may include action targeting schools. The Government has awarded over £60 million in funding since the air quality grant started in 1997, including £3 million in 2018/19.

The following air quality grant award money has been allocated specifically to improve air quality around schools since 2017:

2016/17

• London Borough of Islington Local school focused awareness and engagement campaign (£50,000).
• Sheffield City Council Air Aware communications campaign (engaging local GPs, community groups and schools) (£50,000)

2017/18

• Blaby District Council Schools and SMEs behavioural change and action plan (£59,000).
• Canterbury City Council Awareness campaign in schools and community on transport and domestic burning stoves (£33,354).
• East Sussex County Council (with West Sussex, Brighton, Chichester, Horsham, Adur, Crawley, Mid Sussex, Worthing, Lewes) Action plan for schools and businesses in AQMAs (£105,900).
• Spelthorne Borough Council (Surrey Air Alliance) Awareness campaign in schools across the county (£145,188).

2018/19

• Colchester Borough Council Engagement and awareness project throughout the transport network to promote air quality awareness and transport choices in schools (£249,100)
• Hertsmere Borough Council Cleaner Air 4 Hertsmere Schools awareness project to influence travel behaviour (£37,500).
• Islington London Borough Council NO2 indoor study in school to test sensor performance and efficiency of filter systems (£20,000)
• Slough Borough Council Testing of Vaisla sensors around schools to monitor AQ and use data to promote behaviour change (£99,125).

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ministers across Government Departments about air pollution and how to reduce it.

No estimate has been made by the Government. Local authorities are best placed to target action to improve local air quality, and are required to review and assess local air quality and to take action where there are high levels of air pollution. They have discretionary powers to restrict car access to schools and enforce anti-idling laws outside schools. In March this year Public Health England published the report Review of interventions to improve outdoor air quality and public health. This recommended that local authorities, as part of their local Review of interventions to improve outdoor air quality and public health consider a range of interventions to reduce air pollution in the vicinity of schools and reduce children’s exposure accordingly.

The Government’s Air Quality Grant Programme provides funding to local authorities for projects in local communities to tackle air pollution and reduce emissions which may include action targeting schools. The Government has awarded over £60 million in funding since the air quality grant started in 1997, including £3 million in 2018/19.

The following air quality grant award money has been allocated specifically to improve air quality around schools since 2017:

2016/17

• London Borough of Islington Local school focused awareness and engagement campaign (£50,000).
• Sheffield City Council Air Aware communications campaign (engaging local GPs, community groups and schools) (£50,000)

2017/18

• Blaby District Council Schools and SMEs behavioural change and action plan (£59,000).
• Canterbury City Council Awareness campaign in schools and community on transport and domestic burning stoves (£33,354).
• East Sussex County Council (with West Sussex, Brighton, Chichester, Horsham, Adur, Crawley, Mid Sussex, Worthing, Lewes) Action plan for schools and businesses in AQMAs (£105,900).
• Spelthorne Borough Council (Surrey Air Alliance) Awareness campaign in schools across the county (£145,188).

2018/19

• Colchester Borough Council Engagement and awareness project throughout the transport network to promote air quality awareness and transport choices in schools (£249,100)
• Hertsmere Borough Council Cleaner Air 4 Hertsmere Schools awareness project to influence travel behaviour (£37,500).
• Islington London Borough Council NO2 indoor study in school to test sensor performance and efficiency of filter systems (£20,000)
• Slough Borough Council Testing of Vaisla sensors around schools to monitor AQ and use data to promote behaviour change (£99,125).

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ministers across Government Departments about air pollution and how to reduce it.

No estimate has been made by the Government. Local authorities are best placed to target action to improve local air quality, and are required to review and assess local air quality and to take action where there are high levels of air pollution. They have discretionary powers to restrict car access to schools and enforce anti-idling laws outside schools. In March this year Public Health England published the report Review of interventions to improve outdoor air quality and public health. This recommended that local authorities, as part of their local Review of interventions to improve outdoor air quality and public health consider a range of interventions to reduce air pollution in the vicinity of schools and reduce children’s exposure accordingly.

The Government’s Air Quality Grant Programme provides funding to local authorities for projects in local communities to tackle air pollution and reduce emissions which may include action targeting schools. The Government has awarded over £60 million in funding since the air quality grant started in 1997, including £3 million in 2018/19.

The following air quality grant award money has been allocated specifically to improve air quality around schools since 2017:

2016/17

• London Borough of Islington Local school focused awareness and engagement campaign (£50,000).
• Sheffield City Council Air Aware communications campaign (engaging local GPs, community groups and schools) (£50,000)

2017/18

• Blaby District Council Schools and SMEs behavioural change and action plan (£59,000).
• Canterbury City Council Awareness campaign in schools and community on transport and domestic burning stoves (£33,354).
• East Sussex County Council (with West Sussex, Brighton, Chichester, Horsham, Adur, Crawley, Mid Sussex, Worthing, Lewes) Action plan for schools and businesses in AQMAs (£105,900).
• Spelthorne Borough Council (Surrey Air Alliance) Awareness campaign in schools across the county (£145,188).

2018/19

• Colchester Borough Council Engagement and awareness project throughout the transport network to promote air quality awareness and transport choices in schools (£249,100)
• Hertsmere Borough Council Cleaner Air 4 Hertsmere Schools awareness project to influence travel behaviour (£37,500).
• Islington London Borough Council NO2 indoor study in school to test sensor performance and efficiency of filter systems (£20,000)
• Slough Borough Council Testing of Vaisla sensors around schools to monitor AQ and use data to promote behaviour change (£99,125).

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ministers across Government Departments about air pollution and how to reduce it. There remains a significant debate among experts about the efficacy of vegetation in reducing air pollution. Defra’s Air Quality Expert Group conclude that overall, vegetation and trees in particular are regarded as beneficial for the environment but they are not a solution to air quality problems in our cities and towns. The Government is giving priority to action on the multiple sources of pollutants, delivered through the Clean Air Strategy.

The Mayor of London is responsible for air quality in the capital and has reserve powers under the 1995 Environment Act to enable this.

Local authorities have discretionary powers to restrict car access to schools and enforce anti-idling laws outside schools.

Local authorities are best placed to target action to improve local air quality. The Government’s Air Quality Grant Programme provides funding to local authorities for projects in local communities to tackle air pollution and reduce emissions which may include action targeting schools. The Government has awarded over £60 million in funding since the air quality grant started in 1997, including £3 million in 2018/19. Hackney Council has benefited from this fund.

The Government has put in place a £3.5 billion plan to improve air quality and reduce harmful nitrogen dioxide emissions. Our Clean Air Strategy sets out measures we are taking to improve air quality and reduce emissions of pollution, improving public health.

Our Clean Air Strategy sets out measures to reduce emissions of pollution, improving public health.

The Government has put in place a £3.5 billion plan to improve air quality and reduce harmful emissions.

The Mayor of London is responsible for air quality in London. Local authorities are best placed to target action to improve local air quality. Defra’s Air Quality Grant Programme provides funding to local authorities for projects in local communities to tackle air pollution and reduce emissions which may include action targeting schools. Defra has awarded over £60 million in funding since the air quality grant started in 1997, including £3 million in 2018/19.

Defra does not hold information on the number of schools that are charged for the collection and/or disposal of their recycling, therefore we are unable to make an estimate of this number.

The Resources and Waste Strategy highlights our plans to review the Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, which set out charging arrangements for different categories of waste. However, Defra has no plans at present to make an assessment of the environmental effects of charging schools for their recycling collection.

Defra are committed to increasing both the quality and quantity of recycling materials from schools, businesses and other not for profit organisations. Our consultation ‘Consistency in Household and Business Recycling Collections in England’, which closes on 13 May, seeks views on how we can do this.

Defra does not hold information on the number of schools that are charged for the collection and/or disposal of their recycling, therefore we are unable to make an estimate of this number.

The Resources and Waste Strategy highlights our plans to review the Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, which set out charging arrangements for different categories of waste. However, Defra has no plans at present to make an assessment of the environmental effects of charging schools for their recycling collection.

Defra are committed to increasing both the quality and quantity of recycling materials from schools, businesses and other not for profit organisations. Our consultation ‘Consistency in Household and Business Recycling Collections in England’, which closes on 13 May, seeks views on how we can do this.

Under the Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations, waste collection authorities may charge for the collection of waste from premises forming part of a school. In some cases local authorities may also charge for disposal costs.

The Government is consulting on arrangements for all businesses and public organisations, including schools, to have duties to separate certain recycling materials. We have published an impact assessment to support these proposals alongside this Consultation on Consistency in Household and Business Recycling Collections in England.

We have not made specific estimates of the number of schools that have to pay for their own recycling collections, nor have we made a specific assessment of the environmental effects of charging schools for recycling collections.

Under the Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations, waste collection authorities may charge for the collection of waste from premises forming part of a school. In some cases local authorities may also charge for disposal costs.

The Government is consulting on arrangements for all businesses and public organisations, including schools, to have duties to separate certain recycling materials. We have published an impact assessment to support these proposals alongside this Consultation on Consistency in Household and Business Recycling Collections in England.

We have not made specific estimates of the number of schools that have to pay for their own recycling collections, nor have we made a specific assessment of the environmental effects of charging schools for recycling collections.

Under the Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations, waste collection authorities may charge for the collection of waste from premises forming part of a school. In some cases local authorities may also charge for disposal costs.

The Government is consulting on arrangements for all businesses and public organisations, including schools, to have duties to separate certain recycling materials. We have published an impact assessment to support these proposals alongside this Consultation on Consistency in Household and Business Recycling Collections in England.

We have not made specific estimates of the number of schools that have to pay for their own recycling collections, nor have we made a specific assessment of the environmental effects of charging schools for recycling collections.

In December 2018, the Government launched its Resources and Waste Strategy which sets out a new approach to address food waste from farm to fork. Within the food waste chapter, the Government committed to tackling food waste in schools. Through the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) guidance will be developed and widely promoted.

The Government is fully committed to tackling air pollution. We have put in place a £3.5 billion plan to improve air quality and reduce harmful emissions, and have also published our new world leading Clean Air Strategy which the World Health Organization has praised as “an example for the rest of the world to follow”.

1. Through the 2017 Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) plan, we are working with a number of local authorities to introduce measures which will reduce exposure to vehicle emissions in order to achieve compliance with legal NO2 limits in the shortest time possible. The plan sets out that we have committed £3.5 billion to support air quality and cleaner transport. This includes over £67 million invested since 2013 in retrofitting vehicles (mainly buses) with pollution reducing technology and help to reduce vehicle emissions. We have pledged to end the sale of new conventional diesel and petrol cars and vans by 2040 – the Road to Zero strategy published by the Department for Transport last year sets out new measures to help us achieve our 2040 mission. We have also been closely involved in the development of new European vehicle emission tests and encourage their early adoption.

1. The Government provides support for local authorities to tackle locally identified air pollution issues as they are best placed to target action to improve air quality in their area, which includes around schools and nurseries.

Local authorities have a duty to monitor and assess air quality and to take action to reduce pollution where these breach statutory limits. They already have discretionary powers to restrict car access to schools and enforce anti-idling laws in problem areas like outside schools.

Defra’s Air Quality Grant Programme provides funding to local authorities for projects in local communities to tackle air pollution and reduce emissions which may include local action targeting schools and nurseries. Defra has awarded over £60 million in funding since the air quality grant started in 1997.

Local authorities undertake local monitoring of air pollution.

It is already an offence to leave an engine running unnecessarily when the vehicle is stationary on a public road. Local authorities can issue fixed penalty notices to drivers who leave engines running after being asked to turn them off. Westminster Council is probably the most successful at this, but I encourage local authorities to use their powers so that more people stop idling unnecessarily.

It is already an offence to leave an engine running unnecessarily when the vehicle is stationary on a public road. Local authorities can issue fixed penalty notices to drivers who leave engines running after being asked to turn them off. Westminster Council is probably the most successful at this, but I encourage local authorities to use their powers so that more people stop idling unnecessarily.

What discussions he has had with local authorities on no-idling zones outside schools and hospitals to tackle poor air quality.

What discussions has the Minister had with the Chancellor about the need to establish ring-fenced funding for local authorities to implement measures to protect our children’s health where they are disproportionately affected by toxic air in areas where they live, learn and play?