§ 5. Mr. Kenneth Carlisleasked the Secretary of State for Energy what level of research into the causes of acid rain his Department is supporting.
§ Mr. Peter Walker[pursuant to the reply, 11 June 1984, c. 624]: United Kingdom emissions of sulphur dioxide have already fallen by over 30 per cent. in the last decade. However, the Government recognise the need to continue our efforts to obtain a better understanding of the many scientific uncertainties involved in acid deposition. To that end my Department commissioned the energy technology support unit at Harwell to study the available scientific information about the origins, transport, chemical transformation and deposition of acidity in the environment. It has considered the evidence linking observed environmental damage to vegetation, aquatic life, structural materials and human health with the deposition of acidic sulphur and nitrogen species. Its report is being published today, and I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.
8WThe report will provide a very useful addition to the sources of information on this very complex subject.