Written question asked by Harry Cohen (Labour) on Monday, 23 July 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 25 July 2007. It was answered by Phil Woolas (Labour) on Monday, 3 September 2007 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Acid Rain

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment his Department has made of the (a) effects of acid rain and (b) trends in those effects in (i) the UK and (ii) internationally.

Answer: Over the last two decades, the Government have supported an extensive research programme to investigate and understand the effects of acid rain on the environment.The research has provided us with a greater understanding of the impacts of acid rain on both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and there is now evidence of recovery in some of the most acid-sensitive sites in the UK.Most recent assessments of impacts on terrestrial ecosystems have also shown that there is a continuing reduction, over the last decade, in the areas of sensitive ecosystems across the UK, at risk from damage from acidification.No direct assessment has been undertaken by the Government of the trends or effects of acid rain at an international level. However, the UK contributes significantly financially, and through provision of scientific expertise, to the work of the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. The ongoing review of one of the Protocols under the Convention (the Gothenburg Protocol) has highlighted significant reductions in sulphur deposition and consequent impacts on ecosystems across the UNECE region. Aquatic and forest ecosystems have also become less acidified.

Secondary information