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<p>Defra’s Air Quality Grant Programme provides funding to local authorities for projects
in local communities to tackle air pollution and reduce emissions affecting schools,
businesses and residents. Local authorities have a duty to monitor and assess air
quality and to take action to reduce pollution where these breach statutory limits,
and are best placed to determine local priorities.</p><p>Defra awarded a total of
£2.4million to local authorities in England from the 2017/18 air quality grant fund;
£3.7million was awarded in 2016/17, and £0.5million in 2015/6. £3million has been
allocated for 2018/19.</p><p>Whilst all measures which reduce air pollution will reduce
children’s exposure to these harmful pollutants, some projects have elements that
are specifically targeted at children. For example:</p><ul><li><p>In 2016-17, the
London Borough of Islington were awarded £50,000 to run a local school focused awareness
and engagement campaign through the air quality grant.</p></li><li><p>In 2017/18,
Spelthorne Borough Council were given £145,188 to run an awareness campaign in schools
across Surrey.</p></li></ul><p>Details of further funding from the Air Quality Grant
Programme, including funding specifically directed at children can be found on the
Air Quality Grant Programme webpage here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/air-quality-grant-programme"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/air-quality-grant-programme</a>.</p><p>The
Government has also put in place a £3.5billion plan to improve air quality and reduce
harmful emissions, which includes £495million for councils to improve air quality.
We have consulted on our new world leading Clean Air Strategy, which includes new
and ambitious goals, legislation, investment and policies which will help us to clean
up our air faster and more effectively.</p>
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