HC Deb 20 February 1992 vol 204 cc283-4W
Mr. McGrady

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps will be taken by the air quality monitoring network in Northern Ireland to reduce levels of air pollution.

Mr. Needham

The monitoring network is an independent, United Kingdom-wide system operated on behalf of the Department of the Environment. Its work is supplemented locally by the monitoring carried out by a number of district councils.

The data available from all the monitoring systems operating in Northern Ireland provide a basis from which air quality guidelines and targets can be set. and assessments can be made of the efficacy of measures to cut urban pollution. Such measures include the continued introduction of smoke control areas; proposed regulations to control the composition and sale of certain fuels in smoke control areas; catalytic converters in all new petrol-engined cars from 1 January 1993; new MOT emission tests; and tough new standards for diesel vehicles.

Dr. Mawhinney

The information requested insofar as it can be readily provided is set out in the following tables.

Applications received and processed
1988 1989 1990 1991
Civil Service 10,153 20,991 24,960 8,231
Housing Executive1 7,000 4,500
Health and Social Services
Boards1
Eastern 28,456
Northern 11,131
Southern 7,825
Western 10,774
Education and Library
Boards1:—
Belfast 8,776 6,906
North-Eastern 6,450 5,302
South-Eastern —: 6,685 5,633
Southern 6,368 8,087
Western 5,241 6,716

Notes:

1. Information about applications in the calendar year prior to 1990 is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

2. All applications received are processed.