§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has in regard to the proposals to be put to the Economic Commission for Europe in Geneva on new targets to reduce acid rain in Europe.
§ Mr. YeoThe proposal for the second sulphur protocol under the 1979 convention on long-range transboundary air pollution is that the gap between current sulphur depositions and substantial protection should be closed by 60 per cent. Different levels of reductions will apply to different nations according to the relative impact of their emissions.
The next meeting in August of the official-level working group will consider further the target date and the ranges of figures calculated for each party. The Government are at present considering its position on the reduction figures indicated for the United Kingdom.