§ Mr. Bill O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the impact on employment levels in(a) housing and (b) power generation, if the sulphur dioxide emissions target of 1.2 per cent. is to be met. [30495]
§ Angela EagleThe Environmental Agency is currently consulting on proposals for reducing polluting emissions from existing coal- and oil-fired power stations. The Agency's consultation paper contains a proposal to require that all coal-fired power stations which operate without flue gas desulphurisation equipment (FGD) should be required to use coal with a sulphur content of less than 1.2 per cent. from 1999. The closing date for responses is 10 March and I am sure that the Agency will reflect very carefully on the representations which it receives.
It would not be right for me to comment on the Agency's proposals, since the generators would have a right of appeal to the Secretary of State against any decision to vary their authorisations in line with the consultation paper. Nevertheless, I can say that the Secretary of State has not estimated the impact of the 1.2 per cent. limit on employment levels either in power generation or housing. It seems particularly unlikely that there could be much of a direct effect on the housing market.