§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give figures in real terms at 1987 prices for his Department's expenditure on environmental research and protection in total and broken down into expenditure related to (a) radioactive waste, (b) air pollution, (c) water and (d) countryside for each year since 1974 for which figures are available.
§ Mr. RidleyThe only information immediately available relates to 1985–86 and subsequent years. I shall provide information for earlier years, in so far as it is available without disproportionate effort, as soon as possible.
Following is the information:
£ million at 1987–88 prices 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 Radioactive waste 12.2 11.4 9.9 Air pollution 3.8 4.7 4.7 Water 3.6 3.7 3.5 Countryside 0.5 0.8 0.8 Other environmental protection 2.3 2.8 2.4 Totals 22.4 23.4 21.3 Figures prior to 1987–88 do not include expenditure by the Industrial Air Pollution Inspectorate which became part of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution, within my Department on 1 April 1987.