§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about progress being made in his Department's attempts to reduce the incidence of acid rain in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoynihanWe have received a number of such representations.
We have recently reached agreement on a European Community directive on emissions from large combustion plants. This commits the United Kingdom to reducing total emissions from existing plants relative to 1980 levels, as follows: for sulphur dioxide, by 20 per cent. by 1993, by 40 per cent. by 1998 and by 60 per cent. by 2003; for nitrogen oxides, by 15 per cent. by 1993 and 30 per cent. by 1998. The directive also sets stringent new standards for emissions from new plants.