HC Deb 02 March 1978 vol 945 cc362-3W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, on a calorific input basis, what he assesses to be the yield of sulphur dioxide from the combustion of the following fuels (a) average British coal, (b) products from North Sea oil and (c) fuel oil from blended imported crude oil.

Mr. Eadie

The yield of sulphur dioxide, on a basis of pounds per therm of fuel burnt, is coal, 0.30 lbs; typical North Sea derived fuel oil, 0.07 lbs; typical Middle East derived fuel oil, 0.33 lbs.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Bedford, Official Report, 20th February 1978, column 449, why it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to remove sulphur dioxide emissions from burning oil but not from the combustion of coal; and when he anticipates a similar policy will be adopted towards both fuels.

Mr. Denis Howell

I have been asked to reply.

There is no such distinction. The control policies applied by Her Majesty's Government to oil and coal burning installations are similar, and are intended to ensure satisfactory ground level concentrations of pollutants.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether sulphur dioxide is injurious to health; if so, in what concentrations; and whether there are any centres in the United Kingdom that to his knowledge have exceeded accepted standards even for short intervals.

Mr. Moyle

I have been asked to reply.

In high concentrations sulphur dioxide is injurious to health. For the protection of workers in industry the maximum acceptable level is 13 milligrams per cubic metre of air.

There are no accepted standards for sulphur dioxide in ambient air in the United Kingdom but in 1975–76 in central London, one of the areas where concentrations are highest, the mean daily level was 100 times lower than the above standard.