§ Mr. Patrick ThompsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to deliver to the European Commission the United Kingdom's national programme for emission reductions of sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen from existing large combustion plants.
§ Mr. TrippierThe United Kingdom is sending to the European Commission this week its programme for achieving the cuts in emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) required by the large combustion plants directive. The planned reductions in each target year are greater than those required by the directive.
For SO2, the planned reductions from existing United Kingdom large combustion plants are 21 per cent. by 1993, 45 per cent. by 1998 and 63 per cent. by 2003, and for NOx 21 per cent. by 1993 and 35 per cent. by 1998, in each case relative to 1980. The programme incorporates a plan backed up by legally binding controls.
The total investment of the electricity supply industry alone both on new, clean plant and new equipment for older plant over the next decade will be over £6 billion.
The United Kingdom is submitting the programme in good time for the 31 December deadline set in the directive.