§ Mrs. BrintonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the level of carbon dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom in(a) 1997 and (b) 1998. [85094]
§ Mr. MealeEmissions of CO2 in the UK are estimated to have been 155 million tonnes of carbon in 1997. 1998 emissions are provisionally estimated to have been about 156 million tonnes of carbon, about 1 per cent. higher than in 1997, and 7 per cent. lower than in 1990. The increase between 1997 and 1998 was associated with delays in commissioning and starting up combined cycle gas turbine power stations, planned maintenance at nuclear plant and some reduction in imported electricity.