HC Deb 08 February 1985 vol 72 c722W
Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list those studies which have been carried out by his Department to establish what relationship exists between the development of nuclear resources and reductions in the deposition of nitrous oxides and sulphur dioxide; and whether he will place copies of these studies in the Library.

Mr. Waldegrave

No such studies have been carried out.

Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has made any estimate of how many additional nuclear power stations would be required to achieve reductions of (a) 15 per cent., (b) 30 per cent. and (c) 60 per cent. in the total emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxides in the United Kingdom assuming that the present number of coal-fired stations was reduced in order to achieve such reductions and that no other measures were taken to achieve these objectives and over what timescales such reductions could be achieved.

Mr. Waldegrave

The Government believe that nuclear power will form an increasing component of the country's future electricity supply. This, together with new technologies being developed for cleaner and more efficient fossil fuel combustion, will help to contain future emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxides from power stations. But no estimate of the kind suggested has been made. Achievement of reductions in future emissions is dependent on a number of variables in addition to any increase in the proportion of nuclear generated electricity. These include, for example, the rate of growth of the economy and associated electricity demand.

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