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<p>The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ministers across Government
Departments about air pollution and how to reduce it.</p><p> </p><p>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 <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/795185/Review_of_interventions_to_improve_air_quality.pdf"
target="_blank">Review of interventions to improve outdoor air quality and public
health</a>. 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.</p><p> </p><p>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.</p><p> </p><p>The following air quality grant award money has
been allocated specifically to improve air quality around schools since 2017:</p><p>
</p><p><strong>2016/17</strong></p><ul><li>London Borough of Islington Local school
focused awareness and engagement campaign (£50,000).</li><li>Sheffield City Council
Air Aware communications campaign (engaging local GPs, community groups and schools)
(£50,000)</li></ul><p><strong>2017/18</strong></p><ul><li>Blaby District Council Schools
and SMEs behavioural change and action plan (£59,000).</li><li>Canterbury City Council
Awareness campaign in schools and community on transport and domestic burning stoves
(£33,354).</li><li>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).</li><li>Spelthorne Borough Council (Surrey Air Alliance) Awareness
campaign in schools across the county (£145,188).</li></ul><p><strong>2018/19</strong></p><ul><li>Colchester
Borough Council Engagement and awareness project throughout the transport network
to promote air quality awareness and transport choices in schools (£249,100)</li><li>Hertsmere
Borough Council Cleaner Air 4 Hertsmere Schools awareness project to influence travel
behaviour (£37,500).</li><li>Islington London Borough Council NO2 indoor study in
school to test sensor performance and efficiency of filter systems (£20,000)</li><li>Slough
Borough Council Testing of Vaisla sensors around schools to monitor AQ and use data
to promote behaviour change (£99,125).</li></ul>
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