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<p>The government’s Air Quality Grant Programme provides funding to local authorities;
funding 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> </p><p> </p><p>
</p><p>Defra awarded a total of £2.4 million to local authorities in England from
the 2017/18 air quality grant fund; £3.7 million was awarded in 2016/17, and £0.5
million in 2015/6. £3 million has been allocated for 2018/19.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>
</p><p>While all measures which reduce air pollution will reduce exposure of children
to these harmful pollutants, some projects have elements that are specifically targeted
at children. For example:</p><p> </p><p>In 2016-17, the London Borough of Islington
were awarded £50k to run a local school focused awareness and engagement campaign
through the air quality grant; and</p><p> </p><p>In 2017/18, Spelthorne Borough Council
were given £145,188 to run an awareness campaign in schools across Surrey.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><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> </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>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government has also put in place a £3.5 billion plan to
improve air quality and reduce harmful emissions, which includes £495 million for
councils to improve air quality. Councils with serious air quality problems may bid
for a share of these funds. 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><p> </p>
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