§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Her Majesty's Government are considering new steps for the protection of the ozone layer in line with the United Nations call for immediate urgent action.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyAs my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment said at the first meeting of the Montreal protocol parties in Helsinki last week it is time to "sharpen the teeth" of the protocol. During the review process which was started there, and building on the impetus provided by the London conference, we shall be pressing for a significant strengthening of the protocol. The European Community is calling for a reduction of production and consumption of CFCs by 85 per cent. as soon as possible with a view to their complete elimination by the end of the century.