PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Diesel Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions (30 March 2017)

Tackling air pollution is a priority for the Government. The UK currently meets the legal limits for almost all pollutants, but we recognise that further work is still needed, particularly to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) in some towns and cities.

That is why this Government has committed more than £2 billion since 2011 to increase the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles, support greener transport schemes and set out how we will improve air quality through a new programme of Clean Air Zones.

The use of advanced technologies to reduce emissions from vehicles does form part of our approach. Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology and Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) are important elements of improving the real world control of NOx and particulate emissions from new vehicles and, where retrofitted, from existing models.

In light of both updated information on real world emissions from diesel vehicles and the High Court judgement last year, we will be publishing a revised air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide shortly. The consultation will address the measures needed to reduce nitrogen dioxide concentrations.