HC Deb 08 June 1995 vol 261 cc294-5W
Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the percentage changes in waterborne inputs of cadmium, mercury, copper, zinc and lead to the North sea and to all other coastal waters which have been achieved by the United Kingdom since 1985. [27362]

Mr. Atkins

Following are the figures set out in the progress report being considered by the North sea conference on 8 to 9 June.

Reduction in UK inputs 1985–1995
Substance North Sea: per cent. Reduction All other UK sea areas: per cent. Reduction
Cadmium 70 43
Mercury 73 80
Copper 47 56
Zinc 16 23
Lead 79 39

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the annexe 1A substances for which he expects the 50 per cent. reduction target for North sea waterborne inputs will be met by the United Kingdom. [27363]

Mr. Atkins

There are 36 substances listed in annexe 1A of the ministerial declaration of the third North sea conference in 1990. It is anticipated that the UK will meet the target of achieving a significant reduction of 50 per cent. or more of waterborne inputs of 24 of these substances to the North sea between 1985 and 1995. Reductions will exceed 45 per cent. for three others. The 27 substances are:

  • Mercury
  • Cadmium
  • Copper (47 per cent.)
  • Lead
  • Arsenic
  • Chromium
  • Nickel (46 per cent.)
  • Drins
  • Hexachlorohexane (HCH) (46 per cent.)
  • DDT
  • Pentachlorophenol
  • Hexachlorobenzene
  • Hexachlorobutadiene
  • Carbon tetrachloride
  • Tributyltin compounds
  • Tetrachloroethylene
  • Trichlorobenzene
  • Trichloroethane
  • Simazine
  • Atrazine
  • Azinophos-ethyl
  • Azinophos-methyl
  • Fenthion
  • Malathion
  • Parathion
  • Parathion-methyl
  • Dichlorvos

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage changes in atmospheric and waterborne inputs taken together of mercury and cadmium to the North sea that he expects will be achieved by the United Kingdom between 1985 and 1995. [27364]

Mr. Atkins

It is anticipated that the UK will achieve reductions between 1985 and 1995 in a range of 59 per cent. to 66 per cent. for mercury and 52 per cent. to 62 per cent. for cadmium.

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