§ Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the EC smoke-sulphur dioxide directive which is intended to operate from 1 April; what action he proposes taking over the directive; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawNone directly, but I understand that the Secretary of State for Wales has received representations from the borough of Newport emphasising the importance of complying with the directive.
There are 28 local authority areas in the United Kingdom containing zones in which the prescribed limit values of the directive may be exceeded after 1 April 1983. The Government have informed the European Commission of this and indicated the steps which will be taken to ensure that the requirements of the directive are met by 1 April 1993; the intention is to achieve compliance by extension of smoke control. A more general review of the legislation controlling air pollution has already been announced in response to the fifth report of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution.