§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many tonnes of(a) sulphur dioxide, (b) nitrogen oxides and (c) particulate carbon are discharged into the atmosphere as a result of electricity generation each year.
§ Mr. BaldryIn 1987 a total of 2,830,000 tonnes of sulphur dioxide and 809,000 tonnes of nitrogen oxides were emitted in the United Kingdom as a result of electricity generation. The reference to particulate carbon in the question is taken as meaning black smoke; coal-fired power stations employ a high-temperature combustion process which avoids the emission of black smoke during electricity generation.
These figures have been taken from the "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Figures for 1988 will be available in the next edition of the digest which will be published soon.