§ Mrs. BrintonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effect on the likely fuel mix for electricity generators in the United Kingdom of the European Commission proposals due to be considered in March to introduce ceilings for emissions of acid rain gases; and if he will make a statement. [74373]
§ Mr. BattleProposals expected from the European Commission for a National Emissions Ceilings Directive under the EU Acidification Strategy will cover UK-wide emissions in the year 2010, not just those from power stations. Emissions of sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen from new and existing large combustion plant, including power stations, are already limited under the Large Combustion Plants Directive (88/609/EEC).
Although the levels of any proposed new emissions ceilings have not yet been finalised by the Commission, during the preparation of the 1998 White Paper on the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation (Cmnd 4071) we were mindful of these and other, related proposals already endorsed in principle. Therefore, subject to the outcome of future negotiations, I expect that any agreed national emissions ceilings for the United Kingdom will be fully compatible with the Government's
18–24 year old 6 month plus claimants of unemployed-related benefits (i) May 1997-April 1998 (ii) April 1998-January 1999 Total offlows from the claimant count 222,011 177,902 Average monthly offlow from the claimant count 20,183 19,767 Total change in stock of claimants 50,129 42,950 Average monthly change in stock of claimants -4,557 -4,772 Total change in stock of claimants (per cent.) -30 -36 Monthly percentage point change in stock of claimants -2.7 -4 Note:
All data are seasonally adjusted