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Select committee: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

4th Report - Air quality

HC 479 Published 27 April 2016

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Defra's responsibilities for air quality inquiry Report on parliament.uk ↗

At a glanceGovernment response published 13 September 2016

The government's response

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government sets out its air quality position as centred on its national nitrogen dioxide plan and Clean Air Zones, agreeing with some recommendations and declining a diesel scrappage scheme.

  • On cost-benefit tools, it states: "We agree with the Committee's recommendation that practical tools are needed for policy makers to assess costs and benefits", and says tools are already available through Defra guidance and the HM Treasury Green Book.
  • On Clean Air Zones, it says there will be "no 'one size fits all' approach" and local authorities will lead, but commits to consult "later this year" on a Framework setting principles to be consistent from city to city.
  • On a diesel scrappage scheme, it has concluded this "may not be an appropriate and proportionate response", because air quality exceedances are often localised, and says Clean Air Zones are "a more targeted and proportionate approach".
  • On assessing real driving emissions testing, it says the biggest improvement is expected in 2019 and it would be "more appropriate to assess the impact of RDE on UK air quality in 2020"; it will update its modelling and, "if necessary", its plan if COPERT factors are significantly revised.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

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