§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales what research has been sponsored by his Department into the effects of acid rain on fish in the rivers and lakes of Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsTwo modest research projects have been sponsored directly by the Welsh Office, one of which relates to measuring the episodic nature of acid rainfall in areas in Wales. The other concentrates mainly on the effects of acid rain on vegetation and includes a survey to identify areas in Wales most sensitive to increased leaching of aluminium by acidic deposition. The major part of the Government's sponsored research into the effects of acid rain is, of course, centalised within the Department of the Environment's acid rain research programme for the United Kingdom as a whole. We expect to be able to announce a major new initiative in this field shortly.