§ 35. Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on measures to combat acidification of rivers in Scotland.
Sir Hector MunroThe main source of acidification of rivers in Scotland is acid rain caused by atmospheric pollution. The Government are a signatory to the recent European sulphur protocol which binds all European countries to reduce emissions of sulphur, a significant contributor to acid rain, during the next 15 to 20 years.
Our primary vehicle for achieving reductions in emissions of acid gases from major industrial sources is the United Kingdom national plan to meet the requirements of the EC large combustion plants directive. Under this plan, Scotland is separately responsible for delivering its own reductions in emissions of sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen within specified overall UK limits.