To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress is being made in reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds from solvents. [104549]

Total emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds were estimated to be about 2,686 kilo tonnes in 1990 and had fallen to about 1,676 kilo tonnes in 2000. The National Emissions Ceiling Directive (2001/81/EC) requires that the UK reduces emissions to 1,200 kilo tonnes by 2010, and we expect to achieve this target.Of these totals, emissions from solvent use in 1990 were estimated to be about 665 kilo tonnes and 445 kilo tonnes in 2000.