§ Mr. Allan RobertsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by year the quantity in tonnes of United Kingdom emission from maritime and aviation sources of(a) sulphur dioxide (b) nitrogen oxides and (c) hydrocarbons between 1970 and the present day; and what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to reduce these emissions.
§ Mr. Moynihan[holding answer 18 November 1987]: Emissions from aviation and shipping are not included in the national tables given in the Department's digest of statistics. However, calculations by Warren Spring laboratory from fuel used by ships in inland and coastal waters suggest that the SO2 emissions from shipping are less than 0.2 per cent. of the national total (less than 7,000 tonnes), NOx less than 2 per cent. (less than 37,000 tonnes), and HCs less than 1 per cent. (less than 20,000 tonnes).
Calculations based on aircraft activity in the United Kingdom suggest that aircraft emissions are less than 2 per cent. NOx (less than 37,000 tonnes NOx) and less that 1 per cent. HCs (less than 20,000 tonnes HCs). Aircraft emissions of SO2 are negligible.
Emissions from ships are not regulated at present, but my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport last year introduced regulations relating to fuel venting and emissions of smoke from aircraft and hopes to bring before Parliament early next year proposals for controlling their emissions of unburnt hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen.