§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has made an estimate of the percentage increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere during the past 50 years due to the burning of fossil fuels in power stations.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI have been asked to reply.
No. There is no basis at present for making a meaningful estimate of the proportion of the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide attributable to power station emissions. A report in 1982 by the United States Department of Energy estimated that global carbon dioxide concentrations have risen by 15 to 25 per cent. since 1800; measurements since 1958 show a rise of over 7 per cent.