§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which EU member states have implemented EC Regulation 2037/2000; and if she will list the commencement date in each case. [32057]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 31 January 2002] EC Regulations are directly applicable in all member states, once they enter into force they form part of the law in each member state. EC Regulation No. 2037/2000 applied from 1 October 2000. The provisions relating to the management of waste domestic refrigeration equipment came into effect on 1 January 2002.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many officials in her Department are engaged in ensuring the implementation of EC Regulation 2037/2000. [32059]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 31 January 2002]: Five officials (the equivalent of approximately two full-time posts) are engaged in ensuring the implementation 82W of the regulation with regard to the manufacture, use, trade and export of ozone depleting substances. A further six officials (the equivalent of approximately three full-time posts) are engaged on the waste management aspects of the regulation.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent meetings she has had with outside bodies regarding the implementation of EC Regulation 2037/2000; when they took place; and who was present on each occasion. [32060]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 31 January 2002]: I have not met with outside bodies regarding this matter. However, my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Environment met with a number of electrical retailers on Thursday 24 January—those present at the meeting included representatives from Dixon Group plc, RETRA (Radio Electrical and Television Retailers Association) and Kingfisher plc. There have also been a number of official level meetings with representatives from local authorities, the commercial refrigeration sector, electrical retailers, the voluntary sector, trade associations, and waste management companies too.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on progress towards meeting the recycling targets of EC Regulation 2037/2000. [32061]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 31 January 2002]: EC Regulation No. 2037/2000 does not contain specific targets for recycling. However, there are a number of options for dealing with waste fridges including re-use, export to other member states for treatment, disposal in the UK via high temperature incineration and storage pending treatment in the UK. Investors are in the process of providing a network of new recycling facilities in the United Kingdom. I understand that the first new facilities are likely to be operational in the spring.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish detailed specifications for the design and construction of recycling plants to meet the obligations of EC Regulation 2037/2000. [32058]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 31 January 2002]: Draft standards for the extraction of ozone depleting substances from waste refrigeration equipment were issued in early December. These standards are currently being finalised by the Environment Agency and will be published shortly. All plant will need to meet these standards, but other decisions regarding the design and construction of recycling plants are matters for companies investing in these facilities.