§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many catastrophic leaks of ozone-depleting substances have occurred within his Department's buildings in the last five years.
§ Miss WiddecombeOur records do not show that any such incident has occurred.
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much funding has been allocated or spent to specifically deal with measures to reduce his Department's consumption of ozone-depleting substances.
§ Miss WiddecombeExpenditure is mainly incurred as part of the capital works and building maintenance programmes. It is not possible to identify the extent to which environmental measures formed part of these programmes.
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what the latest available figures are for his Department's total purchase of CFCs and HCFCs;
(2) how many CFC and HCFC installations are contained within his Department's buildings.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe information requested is currently not available. We are considering how this information can be collected to enable us to meet the commitment, in our green housekeeping strategy, to eliminate the use of ozone-depleting substances.
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many portable halon fire extinguishers are contained within departmental buildings; and what measures are being taken to ensure their recycling and replacement.
§ Miss WiddecombeInformation about the number held is not available. Replacement of extinguishers is being undertaken by contractors who are working to professional codes of practice.
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many CFC domestic fridges are contained within his Department's building.
§ Miss WiddecombeInformation about domestic fridges is not available centrally.
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidance has been sought and received on alternatives or substitutes to the ozone-destroying chemicals in use by his Department.
§ Miss WiddecombeAdvice and guidance on the environmental aspects of ozone-depleting substances in buildings is provided by the Department of the Environment. Advice relating to particular buildings is provided by the managing contractors or agents responsible for the maintenance of the building or the suitably qualified consultants.
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what proportion of his Department's consumption of ozone-depleting substances become controlled waste in terms of section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990;
754W(2) 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;
(3) 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.
§ Miss WiddecombeInformation about the quantity of ozone-depleting substances in use in the Department is not available. Such substances, when no longer in use, are removed by contractors who are required to comply with the relevant legislation and associated codes of practice.
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how the departmental Green Minister has promoted protection of the ozone layer with specific policy measures; which possible measures have been considered and rejected; and on what grounds;
(2) what targets have been set for the recycling of ozone-depleting chemicals within departmental buildings.
§ Miss WiddecombeA green housekeeping strategy, setting out the Department's policy for the use of its resources and designed to ensure that full account is taken of the needs of the environment, was adopted in 1992. All members of staff have been made aware of the strategy and an action plan for its implementation will be in place by the end of March. This will include, wherever possible, targets for the various measures. The policy will be reviewed periodically, and no possible measure has been rejected.
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many refrigeration and air conditioning systems in his Department are equipped with automatic leak detection systems.
§ Miss WiddecombeThere is refrigerant leakage detection installed on some equipment but information on the number is not readily available.
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the quantity of ozone-depleting substances recycled within his Department and returned to the manufacturer;
(2) 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.
§ Miss. WiddecombeThe information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Our policy is to eliminate the use of these substances.
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by what date his Department's use of ozone-depleting chemicals will conform to EC regulations on limits on these chemicals.
§ Miss WiddecombeTarget dates for the recovery, recycling and phasing out of ozone depleting substances will be included in the Department's action plan, which will be in place by the end of March, for the implementation of our green housekeeping strategy. The 755W aim will be to have taken all the appropriate measures to meet the phase out dates agreed at the European Council of Ministers on 15 December.
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which current uses of ozone-depleting chemicals by his Department are considered essential.
§ Miss WiddecombeInformation is not currently available, but we will be identifying uses of ozone-depleting substances in implementing our green housekeeping strategy.
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to purchase only ozone-friendly fridges that do not contain CFCs or HCFCs for his Department.
§ Miss WiddecombeIt is our existing policy to ensure that our purchasing activities take environmental considerations fully into account.
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what quantity of HCFC 22 is purchased by his Department per annum.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe information is not available but it is our policy to purchase environmentally-friendly products where appropriate.