HC Deb 23 July 1991 vol 195 cc520-1W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by county area how many tonnes of(a) sulphur dioxide, (b) nitrogen oxides and (c) particulate carbon were discharged into the atmosphere in England during the latest year for which figures are available.

Mr. Baldry

No figures are available on a county basis of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides or particulate carbon emissions for the United Kingdom. However, emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in tonnes have been compiled on a much finer spatial scale, 20km by 20km, for England, Wales and Scotland. These maps for 1987 were published by the review group on acid rain and the photochemical oxidants review group, respectively, in October 1990. Copies of these reports have been deposited in the Library of the House.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken to keep up to date his departmental helpline on atmospheric pollution.

Mr. Baldry

I refer to the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas) on 8 May,Official Report, column 495.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total number of air pollution monitoring sites for each of(a) ozone, (b) carbon monoxide, (c) nitrogen oxides, (d) acid deposition, (e) atmospheric hydrocarbon, (f) trace germs, (g) smoke and sulphur dioxide and (h) lead in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) each of the other European Community countries.

Mr. Baldry

The Department of the Environment is currently operating the following number of air pollution monitoring sites:

Number
Ozone 18
Carbon monoxide 6
Nitrogen 12
Acid deposition 32
Atmospheric hydrocarbons 4
Trace gases 3
Smoke and sulphur dioxide 258
Lead 17

No comprehensive central records are kept by my Department of the number of monitoring sites in other European Community countries. As regards sites monitoring nitrogen oxides, however, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 22 April.