HC Deb 20 April 1990 vol 170 cc1028-9W
Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress the United Kingdom has made towards meeting its target reduction of nitrous, nitric and sulphuric oxides emissions by 1993.

Mr. Trippier

Using 1980 as a baseline, the UK is committed to reducing emissions of sulphur dioxide (S02) by 20 per cent. and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by 15 per cent. from existing large combustion plants by 1993 as the first stage of directive 88/609/EEC. The current "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics" (a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library) shows that in 1988 relevant emissions of SO2 and NOx were 21 per cent. and 10 per cent. lower, respectively, than in 1980.