§ Mr. GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the allocation of local authorities' transport supplementary grants are linked to air quality standards. [158661]
§ Mr. HillCapital resources for local authorities for local transport improvements, including transport supplementary grant, are provided through the Local Transport Plan regime.
Our guidance to authorities on Local Transport Plans (LTPs) makes clear that allocations will be determined by an assessment of the needs and priorities established in the plans and the extent to which the LTP is likely to provide value for money in delivering its integrated transport objectives. It also recognises that air quality is likely to be one of the major factors influencing the objectives and strategies contained within LTPs, particularly in large urban areas.
The Environment Act 1995 requires authorities to review and assess local air quality to determine whether the national air quality objectives are likely to be met, 78W and where this is unlikely, to designate air quality management areas and prepare action plans setting out the steps they propose to take in pursuit of them. Our guidance on LTPs makes clear that where an air quality management area has been declared, LTPs should include measures to improve air quality. In order to maximise the effectiveness of both air quality action plans and LTPs, the two should produced in a co-ordinated manner.
Authorities submitted their first full Local Transport Plans last July. Authorities will be submitting their first annual progress reports later this year and we shall be monitoring closely their progress against the targets set in their LTPs, including those related to air quality standards.