HC Deb 24 May 1989 vol 153 cc584-5W
21. Mr. Bill Walker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects that the inessential use of chlorofluorocarbons in aerosols will be phased out in the United Kingdom.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Members of the British Aerosol Manufacturers Association have stated that by the end of this year 90 per cent. of aerosols in this country will be free of chlorofluorocarbons. The remaining 10 per cent. is accounted for by medical and some industrial aerosols for which suitable substitutes are not yet available.

74. Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on the labelling of aerosol cans as ozone friendly.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

I welcome the decision of the British Aerosol Manufacturers Association to recommend to its members that all aerosols be labelled, so as to indicate whether or not they contain ozone-damaging chlorofluorocarbons.

Sir Barney Hayhoe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what facilities there are in the United Kingdom for destroying chlorofluorocarbons in an environmentally safe way; and whether he has any plans to improve upon present arrangements.

Mr. Ridley

[holding answer 22 May 1989]: There are very limited facilities currently available in the United Kingdom for incineration of liquefied chlorofluorocarbons and, as yet, no practical methods for destroying foam in an environmentally satisfactory method. The best way forward is to encourage industry to minimise the use of CFCs, and to recycle where practicable. I shall keep disposal arrangements under review in the light of further consideration by the parties to the Montreal protocol.