HC Deb 24 April 1991 vol 189 cc435-6W
Mr. Butler

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to establish an air pollution monitoring network in the United Kingdom to include the monitoring of benzene levels and other hydrocarbons.

Mr. Baldry

My Department has been carrying out limited monitoring of United Kingdom levels of hydrocarbons, including benzene, for several years as part of a programme of research developing the technology for measuring these pollutants.

As announced in the environment White Paper, the Government aim to expand the existing urban monitoring networks. A first stage of this expansion is to be implemented early next year and will include two additional sites measuring benzene and other hydrocarbons.