§ Mr. Croninasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to reduce sulphur dioxide pollution of the atmosphere in co-operation with other OECD countries, having regard to the recent OECD report on the subject.
§ Mr. Denis HowellControl measures have already reduced urban ground level concentrations of sulphur dioxide in the United Kingdom by 40 per cent. in the last 10 years, and I am satisfied that current levels are not a major cause for concern. Emissions of sulphur dioxide have also fallen—by about 13 per cent. since 1973. The figures in the OECD report which suggest that the United Kingdom contributed about 25 per cent. of the sulphur compounds deposited in Norway in 1974 are subject to very wide margins of error, and the report does not cover the effect of the deposition or cost-effective remedies. The United Kingdom is already participating in further studies within the OECD and the ECE to establish more precisely the extent of the transport of pollution, the damage it may be causing, various options for controlling it and the associated costs.