Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current annual level of financial commitment by the European Commission to research on(a) ozone layer depletion, (b) the greenhouse effect and its relation to power plant development, (c) nuclear waste and nuclear plant decommissioning and (d) liquid pollution of the North sea by toxic wastes.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe European Commission does not publish a breakdown of all European Community research expenditure at this level of detail. Research on ozone layer depletion, the greenhouse effect, and marine pollution are all covered in the environment programme.
Expenditure figures (payment appropriations) published in the European Community budget for 1988 for relevant research programmes are as follows (converted to £ sterling at the rate 1 European unit of account = £0.66p):
£ million Environment 22.98 Radioactive Waste Management 123.48 Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Stations 1.78 1 Includes expenditure at the Communities' own Joint Research Centre on Nuclear Fission research, only part of which is concerned with radioactive waste management.