§ Mr. Allan Robertsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many acres or hectares of trees are affected by the new form of damage reported in the Government reply to the report on acid rain from the Environment Committee, Cmnd. 9397, to have recently been observed in north and west Britain; which species are affected, and in what proportions; and when this new form of damage was (a) first detected and by whom, (b) first publicly recorded and (c) first known to the Government;
(2) if he has any evidence of tree damage associated with air pollution in the United Kingdom;
(3) in what ways the new form of damage to trees reported in the reply to the Environment Committee report on acid rain (Cmnd. 9397), as occurring in north and west Britain resembles that associated with air pollution in Germany; and whether the damage can be explained by the action of pathogenes, fungi, bacteria, stress, drought, climate or other causes not associated with(a), acid deposition and (b) other pollution.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI shall answer these questions shortly.
§ Mr. Allan Robertsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what sum the Government are currently planning to spend on research into air pollution damage to trees or other plants in the United Kingdom in 1985.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Western Isles (Mr. Stewart) on 11 December at column446.
No figure for expenditure during the calendar year 1985 is available.
§ Mr. Allan Robertsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Government are aware of any damage to vegetation by ozone in the United Kingdom over the last three years.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Western Isles (Mr. Stewart) on 11 December at column446.