Sulphur Protocol (Hansard, 17 December 1996)

§ Mr. Gummer

I am pleased to announce that the United Kingdom has today ratified the UNECE second sulphur protocol. We are among the first handful of countries to do so. Achievement of the emission reduction targets in the protocol will mean even better protection for our sensitive ecosystems, forests, lakes and buildings, as well as benefits for our continental European neighbours. It will also lead to substantial improvements in the quality of the air we breathe which will be good for asthma sufferers and for everyone who has breathing problems.

The protocol needs ratification by 16 countries to become fully effective. So far 28 countries have signed it but only five, including now the United Kingdom, have ratified. It is clearly important that all those who have signed the protocol should now ratify it. Only by concerted action across the whole of Europe shall we deal effectively with the problem of acid rain.

Our commitment is to reducing emission of sulphur dioxide by 80 per cent. by 2010 compared with 1980 levels. I am publishing today a national strategy setting out how this will be achieved.

The figures for 1995 reveal that emissions from the major sources—power stations, refineries and large industrial boilers and furnaces—have been reduced by 55 per cent. since 1980. This shows that we have already made enormous strides in tackling acid rain.

We have buried the old myth that Britain is the dirty man of Europe. It never was true. Our policies on this, and on the whole range of environmental matters, show how serious is this country's commitment to the environment. We have a record of which we can be rightly proud.

I am pleased to announce also that changes have been made to the national plan which gives effect in the United Kingdom to the requirements of the European Community large combustion plant directive. The aim of these changes, which were widely welcomed by those who commented on the consultation proposals issued in the summer, is to ensure that future allocations of emissions quota for both sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen under the national plan are more closely in line with regulatory consents under integrated pollution control.