HC Deb 01 March 1982 vol 19 cc53-4W
Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he monitors the incidence and effects of polluted rainfall, more commonly referred to as "acid rain"; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Giles Shaw

On the question of monitoring the incidence of acid rain, I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow) on 8 June and 3 July 1981.—[Vol. 6, c.43; Vol. 7, c. 526].

A great deal of work into the effects of air pollution, including acid rain, has been carried out in the United Kingdom and is still continuing; examples are the effects of air pollution on forestry and crops and the effects on materials. My Department is in contact with the bodies undertaking this work and also maintains a close interest in similar work being done internationally.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Her Majesty's Government have ratified the Economic Commission for Europe convention on long-range transboundary air pollution signed by 35 nations in November 1979 at Geneva.

Mr. Giles Shaw

The United Kingdom has yet to ratify the convention but there is no obstacle to doing so. We are abiding by an agreement that member States of the EC and the Community itself should ratify the convention simultaneously later this year, when all have completed their necessary procedures.

Mr. Chapman

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to take any initiative to ensure a reduction to the minimum practicable level of the harmful effects upon the environment of airborne pollutants, including sulphur dioxide; and what co-ordination exists between countries, particularly European countries, to encourage and achieve such a reduction of the polluted atmosphere.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Under the "best practicable means" principle the aim of emission control as already applied in the United Kingdom is to ensure that adverse effects are reduced to the lowest practicable level.

United Kingdom action in the field of atmospheric pollution is co-ordinated with that of other countries through our membership of various organisations such as the European Community, the Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Within the EEC a recently-adopted directive will require member countries to limit ground level concentrations of smoke and sulphur dioxide to prescribed levels.

The EC Council of Ministers has also taken a decision designed to ensure exchange of information on air pollution matters between member countries. Action on the emission of pollutants from motor vehicles is co-ordinated within the UNECE and the United Kingdom is working with the other members to achieve steady reductions in this area.

The United Kingdom is also collaborating with the other signatories to the UNECE convention on long-range transboundary air pollution in studies on various aspects of air pollution and its effects on the environment.