§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what policy changes he will implement as a result of research undertaken for the Department by March Consulting Group.
§ Mr. MacleanMy Department has commissioned four studies from the March Consulting Group. Three of these are for Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and concern pollution control for petrochemical and petroleum processes, and for processes involving sulphonation. The group is required to identify both the various processes being undertaken and the best available techniques being used worldwide to control polluting releases. The results of these studies will be used by the inspectorate in the chief inspector's guidance notes covering those processes. The fourth is on the use of chlorofluorocarbons in the United Kingdom refrigeration and air conditioning industries. The Government are committed to the earliest possible phase out of CFCs, and are now considering what further action might be taken in the light of March Consulting Group's report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.