§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the Home Office building at 50 Queen Anne's Gate uses hydrofluorocarbons for(a) refrigeration and (b) air conditioning; what amounts of hydrofluorocarbons have been purchased in each year since 1995; and what plans he has to phase out the (i) purchase and (ii) use of hydrofluorocarbons. [153020]
§ Mr. Straw[holding answer 9 March 2001]Hydrofluorocarbons are used in domestic fridges at tea 503W points and freezer cabinets and fridges in the staff restaurant area. They are also used as refrigerants in the air-conditioning systems.
Figures supplied by our maintenance contractor on the purchase of hydrofluorocarbons are:
- 2000—10 kg
- 2001—840 kg.
The information for the years 1995–99 is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Our policy is that hydrofluorocarbons should be used only where other safe, technically feasible, cost effective and environmentally acceptable alternatives do not exist.
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department's policy is regarding the purchase of(a) hydrocarbons and (b) other environmentally benign refrigerants to meet all the refrigeration and other energy needs of buildings and premises (i) owned and (ii) leased by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [153019]
§ Mr. Straw[holding answer 9 March 2001]The Home Office does not have a specific policy on the purchase of hydrocarbons. However, my Department's policy is to ensure that no products are purchased which contain chlorofluorocarbons and—except where existing systems cannot be easily converted—no hydrochlorofluoro-carbons, halons, carbon tetrachloride, 111 trichloroethane or any other ozone-depleting substances. The policy also states that hydrofluorocarbons should only be used where other safe, technically feasible, cost effective and environmentally acceptable alternatives do not exist.
§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which buildings and premises(a) owned and (b) leased by his Department 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. [153016]
§ Mr. Straw[holding answer 9 March 20011Information on the use of chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons is not recorded centrally. My Department's policy is to ensure that we do not purchase any products which use chlorofluorocarbons and, except where existing systems cannot be easily converted, hydrochlorofluorocarbons.