§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the reduction in the level of sulphur dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom which will be required in order to stabilise soil acidity levels.
§ Mr. MacleanThe sensitivity of soils to acid deposition varies greatly in different parts of the United Kingdom as a result of geological and other factors. Under current policies, annual United Kingdom emissions of sulphur dioxide are expected to fall by around 60 per cent. between 1980 and 2005. On present estimates, only about 8 per cent. of the surface area of Great Britain should then be subject to rates of acid deposition which will result in further soil acidification.
The Government are taking part in discussions in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe which it is hoped will lead to a new international agreement on SO2 emissions by the end of 1993. However to eliminate soil acidification altogether would necessitate sulphur dioxide reductions of over 95 per cent and parallel action on other pollutants. This is not considered a realistic objective either for the United Kingdom or for the remainder of the UNECE region for the foreseeable future.