HC Deb 08 December 1993 vol 234 cc258-9W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what decisions were taken at the meeting of the Ozone working group of the parties to the Montreal protocol held in Bangkok from 8 to 9 November; and what assessment he has made of the effect on halon production and use in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Yeo

The fifth meeting of the parties to the Montreal protocol took place in Bangkok from 17 to 19 November. The main issue at the meeting was replenishment of the protocol's multilateral fund, and it was agreed that the fund's budget for 1994–96 should be $510 million, which, after taking account of uncommitted resources, implies a $455 million replenishment.

It was also agreed that there should be no continued production of halons in developed countries in 1994 to meet essential uses. This means that there will be no production or supply of new halons in the United Kingdom in 1994.