Mr. Alan W. Williamsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the recent report of the United Nations co-operation programme for the monitoring and evaluating of long-term transmission of air pollutants in Europe, whether he will conduct an urgent review of the evidence of serious damage to conifer trees in Britain by acid rain.
§ Mr. MoynihanThe Department already undertakes regular reviews of the state of tree health in the United Kingdom in consultation with the Forestry Commission, the Nature Conservancy Council, the Natural Environment Research Council and the Friends of the Earth.
§ 31. Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his Department's proposals to reduce acid rain.
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§ Mr. MoynihanWe aim to reduce emissions of sulpher dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 30 per cent. on 1980 levels, by the end of the 1990s. To facilitate this, we have endorsed plans by the Central Electricity Generating Board to retrofit three major coal-fired power stations with flue gas desulphurisation equipment, and to fit all 12 coal-fired power stations with low NOx burners. All new fossil-fuel fired power stations will also be equipped with the technology to abate acid emissions.