HC Deb 09 March 2001 vol 364 cc365-6W
Mr. Laurence Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) to what extent his Department's headquarters building in London uses hydrofluorocarbons for(a) refrigeration and (b) air conditioning; what amounts of hydrofluorocarbons have been purchased by his Department in each year since 1995; and what plans he has to phase out his Department's (i) purchase and (ii) use of hydrofluorocarbons; [153048]

(2) what his Department's policy is regarding the purchase of (a) hydrocarbons and (b) other environmentally benign refrigerants to meet the refrigeration and other energy needs of buildings and premises (i) owned and (ii) leased by his Department; and if he will made a statement. [153047]

Ms Beverley Hughes

(a) Two of DETR's London headquarters buildings use hydrofluorocarbons as refrigerants in their air-conditioning systems.

(b) The amount of hydrofluorocarbons purchased in each year since 1995 is:

Year Kg
1995–961 —
1997 0
1998 0
1999 0
2000 1,095
2001 1,054
1 Buildings not occupied

Our policy is to switch, where possible, from hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorobutane and sulphur hexafluoride to environmentally preferable substitutes and to ensure that we do not buy any products which contain chlorofluorocarbons, halons, carbon tetrachloride, 111 trichloroethane, or hydrochlorofluorocarbons where suitable alternatives exist.

Mr. Laurence Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the buildings and premises(a) owned and (b) leased by his Department which use (i) chlorofluorocarbons and (ii) hydrochlorofluorocarbons for refrigeration and other energy needs; and if he will give details of such use and the reasons for it. [153046]

Ms Beverley Hughes

Property management is delegated to the Department's local property centres and such details are not recorded centrally. Of the three London headquarters buildings only Great Minster House has an HCFC refrigerant (R22). We are evaluating the options for replacing this. My Department's policy is to ensure that we do not purchase any products which use chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons where there are suitable alternatives.