§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department will make funds available to enable the work of the surface water acidification programme to continue.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Field) in theOfficial Report on 23 March at column 770.
The Department, with other Government Departments, will continue to fund wide-ranging monitoring and research programmes on the nature and impacts of acid deposition. Total Government expenditure in this field in 1990–91 is planned to exceed £2 million.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations his Department had at the Royal Society conference on water acidification in London between 19 and 22 March.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-Amory[holding answers 29 March 1990]: The surface water acidification programme (SWAP) final conference was attended by scientific experts from my Department. Additionally, many of the United Kingdom-based scientists participating in the SWAP research also have contracts from my Department to carry out parts of our continuing £1.5 million research programme into the processes, impacts and abatement of United Kingdom acid deposition.