§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his Department's policy on the purchase and use of(a) recycled paper, (b) low-energy light bulbs, (c) tropical hardwoods, (d) peat and (e) cars with catalytic converters.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe Northern Ireland position was set out in the Secretary of State's policy statement on green housekeeping, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. This has been circulated to all staff in the Northern Ireland civil service and in the Northern Ireland Office.
The policy statement specifically refers to recycled paper. hardwoods and peat. Although not specifically 504W mentioned, the use of low-energy light bulbs has been part of the energy conservation programme managed by the Department of the Environment and the Department of Economic Development. The position on cars is that for some years we have been specifying vehicles which are either diesel-powered or use lead-free petrol. Replacement cars are now specified with catalytic converters.