§ 89. Mr. Kelleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will investigate the reasons for the heavy emission of sulphur dioxide from the Coalite plant at Rossington on 15th and 17th April; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsMonitoring shows that emissions of sulphur dioxide on these dates were not unusually high. The complaint received by the local authority related to the characteristic smell from the plant. This is related not to sulphur dioxide but to the manufacturing process itself. The best practicable means are in use to minimise emissions to the atmosphere, but it is not possible to eliminate the smell altogether.
§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that the environmental safeguards asked for by the hon. Member for Don caster during the debate on environmental pollution on 20th July, 1970, consequent upon the Secretary of State's approval of the establishment of the Coalite plant at Rossington, have been fully implemented; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsThe screening of the site and certain measures to prevent pollution of the River Torne by accidental spillages of surface water run off were taken into account in formulating the conditions attached to planning permission for the plant. Enforcement of these conditions is a matter for the local planning authority.