Written question asked by Lord McCabe (Labour) on Thursday, 8 March 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 March 2001. It was answered by Michael Meacher (Labour) on Monday, 12 March 2001 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when his Department's National Expert Group on Transboundary Air Pollution will publish its report into acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone in the UK. - Includes figures and ref to copy of report in the Library and to http://www.environment.det.gov.uk/conindex.htm.

Answer: Mr. McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, transport and the Regions when his Department's national expert group on transboundary Air Pollution will publish its report into acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone in the UK. [153495] Mr. Meacher: The report of the National Expert Group on Transboundary Air Pollution will be published today on the internet as a "draft" for comment. I will also arrange for copies to be placed in the House Libraries at that time. The draft conclusions of the Expert Group show a mixed picture on the impact of air pollution on ecosystems in the UK. For instance the reduction in sulphur emissions has led to a 50 per cent. reduction in `acid rain' in the UK in the last 12 years, and as a result, some ecosystems are showing signs of recovery. However, following recent scientific developments, the Expert Group concludes that the continued impact of air pollution on ecosystems may be more widespread than previously calculated. The report is being issued in draft to allow the scientific community and other interested parties the opportunity to review and comment on the scientific developments and draft findings before the Group publish their final report in August or September 2001. The draft report will also be available via the DETR's Environment Protection web pages, http:// www.environment.detr.gov.uk/conindex.htm

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 364 c470-1W; 153495
Session: 2000-01
Subjects: Air pollution Pollution control Ozone Pollutants Acid rain Sulphur National Expert Group on Transboundary Air Pollution Eutrophication
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk