§ 29. Mr. Heathcoat-Amoryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to monitor emissions from coal-fired power stations.
§ Mrs. RumboldHer Majesty's air pollution inspectorate requires power station emissions of smoke and fine particulates and, where practicable, grit and dust, to be monitored continuously.
Emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and Hydrocarbons (HC) from power stations are calculated on a national basis by reference to the sulphur and nitrogen content of fuel used and, in the case of NOx and HC, by reference to the combustion conditions at plants. Individual plant emissions can be calculated if necessary. My Department has recently asked the Department of Trade and Industry's Warren Spring laboratory to measure some power station emissions of SO 2, NOx and HC in order to verify the calculations currently used.