Sulphur and Nitrogen Oxide Emissions (Hansard, 22 January 1986)

HC Deb 22 January 1986 vol 90 c224W 224W

§ 37. Mr. Alton
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the United Kingdom will now join those nations which have agreed a time scale to reduce sulphur and nitrogen oxide emissions by 30 per cent.

§ Mr. Waldegrave
No. The Government aim to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions by 30 per cent. on the 1980 base by the late 1990s and believe it would be wrong to commit the United Kingdom to potentially high levels of investment by joining those countries committed to achieving this reduction by 1993. It also aims to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 30 per cent. on the same basis and to the same time scale although there is no international agreement to reduce these emissions.