§ Mr. Stonehouseasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the level of the air pollution in the West Midlands and in London, Liverpool, Bristol and the area of Walsall affected by the Walsall power station, respectively; and what measures he is proposing to reduce the nuisance caused by such pollution in Walsall and other urban areas.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe mean annual values of ground level concentrations of smoke and sulphur dioxide in micro-grammes per cubic metre for 1974–75, obtained as part of the National Survey,574W were as follows for the various areas specified:
Smoke SO2 Walsall … 41 83 West Midlands … 31 78 London … 28 96 Liverpool … 39 129 Bristol … 16 42 Comparision of these figures shows that Walsall had the highest level of smoke pollution. The level of sulphur dioxide pollution at Walsall was higher than Bristol and the West Midlands generally but lower than London and Liverpool. Levels of smoke and sulphur dioxide pollution at these places have fallen over the past few years. The control authorities have the necessary powers and will seek to make further improvements wherever practicable.