§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has made on the proposed EEC legislation that paper mills should bum only low sulphur content fuel oil; and whether such legislation will impose a significant increase in the industry's energy costs.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThere are proposals at an early stage of discussion among member States for Community legislation the object of which would be to require users of fuel oil, including paper mills, to burn low sulphur oil when ground level concentrations of sulphur dioxide and suspended particulates exceeded certain specific values. The 39W terms of this legislation are still open to negotiation and it is too early to be able to assess what would be the cost should it eventually come into operation.