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<p>Air quality has improved significantly in recent decades and we are working at
local, national and international levels to continue those improvements. The UK currently
meets legal limits for almost all pollutants.</p><p> </p><p>The national air quality
plan for NO<sub>2</sub>, published in December last year, combines targeted local
and national measures, forming part of a wider approach that exploits new and clean
technologies, such as electric and ultra-low emission vehicles. As part of the national
plan we are requiring five cities to implement Clean Air Zones. The relevant cities
are Birmingham, Derby, Leeds, Nottingham and Southampton.</p><p>The Joint Air Quality
Unit has been established to deliver the national plan and is working in close cooperation
with local authorities. The unit will provide guidance and support to local authorities
to implement the plan by producing a Clean Air Zone framework which will set out how
zones should be implemented, ensuring consistency across English local authorities.
This will allow businesses and individuals to make straightforward economic decisions
about which vehicles to purchase, and how and when they use them. We will support
local authorities to make improvements to air quality through a variety of measures,
including the Air Quality Grant, a competitive fund supporting local action to improve
air quality.</p><p>We are also providing dedicated support for the five cities which
are required to implement Clean Air Zones by funding local scoping studies. In addition,
we will provide funding to help these local authorities implement the zones and, where
necessary, support the implementation of additional measures.</p>
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