§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions by how much the output of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide have been reduced in the last five years; and which power stations continue to emit these substances. [137719]
§ Mr. MeacherThe latest figures available from the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory show that in 1998 the total UK emissions of SO2and NOx were as 1,615 and 1,753 kilotonnes respectively. Between 1994–98 emissions of SO2have been reduced by 56 per cent. and of NOx by 76 per cent. Emissions will continue to reduce under the Environment Agency's ongoing regulation of sulphur emissions and, in the longer term, the revised EC Large Combustion Plant Directive and the proposed National Emission Ceilings Directive, which from 2010 will set annual ceilings of 585 and 1,167 kilotonne for SO2 and NOx respectively. A list of large power stations1, that continue to emit one or both of these substances, is listed.
1(Combustion plants >300MW)