Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he possesses on research undertaken by Du Pont chemicals in the United States of America on the use of halon 121 to combat ozone layer damage from other halons.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe Government are aware that Du Pont is investigating the use of halon 121 for discharge testing of fire fighting equipment. The use of halon 121, also known as HCFC 22, is one of several possible approaches to avoiding the use in discharge testing of the halons controlled by the Montreal protocol.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies have been sponsored by his Department or the Health and Safety Executive into replacements for halon 1211, halon 1301, and halon 2402, to mitigate damage from the greenhouse effect.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe Government have sponsored no such studies. Officials keep in close touch with the steps being taken by industry to reduce use of these halons and to find suitable replacements.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been conducted by his Department on replacement options for chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) 113; and what information his Department has on international research on CFC 113 by the electronics industry.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe Department has not conducted research into replacement options for chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) 113. The Department keeps in touch with the steps the electronics industry is taking, in the United Kingdom and internationally, both to make more efficient use of CFC 113 and to develop alternative methods of cleaning printed circuit boards, including not cleaning them at all.