§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for what percentage of the coal burn at Castle Cement, Clitheroe, secondary liquid fuel is permitted to be used as a substitute. [7943]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe company has agreed with Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to replace no more than 50 per cent. of the thermal input from burning coal with energy from secondary liquid fuel.
§ Mr. PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Enviornment how many people have complained to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution alleging ill effects from the burning of Cemfuel by Castle Cement at Clitheroe; and how many have been examined by a qualified toxicologist. [7949]
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§ Mr. ClappisonIn the past 21 months HMIP has received approximately 440 complaints concerning Castle Cement, some of which allege ill effects. This does not include a number of complaints passed to my Department by the local Members of Parliament. My Department is not aware of anybody being examined by a qualified toxicologist.
§ Mr. PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Enviornment what consideration he has given to suspending the burning of Cemfuel at Castle Cement at Clitheroe pending an evaluation by the Department of Health on possible health risks. [7945]
§ Mr. ClappisonHer Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has sought advice from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, East Lancashire health authority and the Department of Health, and is satisfied that there does not appear to be any evidence that the use of Cemfuel is any more harmful to health than the use of coal.
§ Mr. PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Enviornment what is the annual tonnage limit for secondary liquid fuel burned at Castle Cement, Clitheroe. [7942]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe annual tonnage of fuel burned is limited by the design of the kilns to approximately 70,000 tonnes per year. Fifty per cent. of the thermal input can be replaced by secondary liquid fuel, but the actual amount burned is limited by the supply available to about 40,000 tonnes per year.
§ Mr. PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what emission limits to air are in force at Castle Cement, Clitheroe, for(a) heavy metals, class I, II or III, (b) hydrogen fluoride, (c) hydrogen chloride, (d) sulphur dioxide, (e) nitrogen oxides and (f) carbon monoxide. [8046]
§ Mr. ClappisonHer Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will use the experience it has now gained about the use of substitute liquid fuel in the manufacture of cement, to set limits for these substances at Castle Cement, Clitheroe should it decide to allow the continued burning of Cemfuel at Clitheroe.