Question reference: S6W-00909
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 18 June 2021
-
Current status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 8 July 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date all low-emission zones will be established in cities.
Answer
The 2017 Programme for Government initially committed to introducing Low Emission Zones (LEZs) into Scotland’s four biggest cities (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen) between 2018 and 2020. Scotland’s first LEZ (with an initial focus on buses) was launched in Glasgow at the end of 2018.
The COVID-19 pandemic triggered an evaluation of this timeline and the new indicative timeline is for LEZs to be introduced into Scotland’s four biggest cities between February and May 2022. Once introduced, this is when a LEZ grace period of no less than one year and no more than four years will start.
Local authorities have the final decision on the duration of the grace period which is the most appropriate for their LEZ Proposal. Once the grace period has lapsed, penalty charge notice enforcement will commence.