HC Deb 27 February 1990 vol 168 cc182-3W
Mr. Paice

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate has been made by his Department of the number of deaths and the number of work days lost through air pollution for each year since 1980, together with the estimated cost of health care.

Mr. Trippier

The Department has made no such estimate. The term "air pollution" is not sufficiently precise to be attributable as a cause of death or illness, and it is therefore doubtful whether the information exists on which such estimates could be based.

Mr. Paice

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what have been the annual changes in the emissions of sulphur dioxide from fossil fuel combustion in the United Kingdom from 1975 to 1989; and if he will give the projections for the years to 1995;

(2) what have been the total annual reductions in the emissions of sulphur dioxide in the United Kingdom from 1975 to 1989; and if he will give the projections for the years to 1995;

(3) what projections he has concerning the emissions of nitrous oxides from the United Kingdom; and what plans he has for their reduction.

Mr. Trippier

Figures for the years 1975 to 1987 are given in chapter 2 of the "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics", copies of which are held in the Library of the House. Figures for 1988 will be contained in the 12th edition, which will be published shortly. Figures for 1989 are not yet available.

The European Community large combustion plants directive commits us to reduce emissions of sulphur dioxide from existing combustion plants over 50 MW by 60 per cent. by 2003, and of nitrogen oxides by 30 per cent. by 1998, based on 1980 levels in each case, with stringent emissions standards for new plants. The agreement on motor vehicles reached with our European partners in June 1989 is expected to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides by about 80 per cent. from each new car after 1992. We are in the process of examining the implications of these commitments with Warren Spring laboratory, which maintains the national emissions inventory for the Department.