§ 27. Mr. CurryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made in reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases harmful to the atmosphere resulting from electricity generation.
§ Mr. TrippierUsing 1980 as a base line, the United Kingdom is committed to reducing emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2) by 60 per cent. by 2003 and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by 30 per cent. by 1998 from existing large combustion plants including power stations. In 1988 emissions of SO2 and NOx from power stations were 13 per cent. and 10 per cent. lower, respectively, than in 1980. Decisions on the extent to which the United Kingdom should reduce projected emissions of carbon dioxide will need to be taken in a global context, in the light of the work on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the second world climate conference in November.