HC Deb 08 December 1992 vol 215 cc619-20W
Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many portable halon fire extinguishers are contained within his Department's buildings; and what measures are being taken to ensure their recycling and replacement;

(2) what measures have been taken to ensure that ozone-destroying substances in use by his Department identified as controlled waste under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 do not reach the atmosphere:

(3) how many chlorofluorocarbon domestic fridges are contained within his Department's buildings;

(4) what targets have been set for the recycling of ozone-depleting chemicals within his Department's buildings;

(5) what is the quantity of ozone-depleting substances recycled within his Department and returned to the manufacturer;

(6) by what date his Department's use of ozone-depleting chemicals will conform to EC regulations on limits on these chemicals;

(7) how much funding has been allocated or spent to deal specifically with measures to reduce his Department's consumption of ozone-depleting substances;

(8) what action has been taken to ensure that ozone-destroying substances consumed by his Department are identified as controlled wastes when they are no longer in use;

(9) if he will provide details from the maintenance and servicing record of the quantity and type of ozone-destroying chemicals used annually in his Department's refrigeration and air conditioning equipment for servicing and in leakages; and what proportion is removed for recycling;

(10) how many chlorofluorocarbon and hydrochloro-fluorocarbon installations are contained within his Department's buildings;

(11) how many refrigeration and air conditioning systems in his Department are equipped with automatic leak detection systems;

(12) what proportion of his Department's consumption of ozone-depleting substances becomes controlled waste in terms of section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990;

(13) what guidance has been sought and received on alternatives or substitutes to the ozone-destroying chemicals in use by his Department;

(14) which current uses of ozone-depleting chemicals by his Department are considered essential.

Mr. Lang

[holding answer 19 November]: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as the necessary information has been collated.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest available figures for his Department's total purchase of CFCs and HCFCs.

Mr. Lang

[holding answer 19 November]: The information required could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.