§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will undertake long-term monitoring of the atmosphere with particular regard to the effect of sulphur dioxide on remote and rural areas.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThere are currently some 100 rural monitoring sites for sulphur dioxide. These are being reviewed with the intention of creating a baseline network of rural sites to provide a long-term data base. No decision has yet been taken about the number of sites to be included in this network. In making the decision, account will be taken of the recommendation in the tenth report of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution that further consideration be given to the size of the baseline rural network.
The commission's recommendation that baseline monitoring of nitrogen oxides and ozone should be improved will be subject to separate consideration.