Chlorofluorocarbons (Hansard, 6 July 1990)

§ Mr. Flynn
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to ensure research contracts placed by his Department contain a stipulation the contractors institute a policy of chlorofluorocarbons recovery from equipment using chlorofluorocarbons, in research carried out for his Department.

§ Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
It is Government policy to encourage all users of equipment using CFCs to institute a policy of CFC recovery and to reduce dependence on such equipment.

§ Mr. Flynn
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the essential medical uses of chlorofluorocarbons that will be exempted from phasing out by 2000 or 2005 in the United Kingdom, following the recent amendment to the 1987 Montreal protocol.

§ Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
There are no essential medical uses of chlorofluorocarbons exempted from the 2000 phase-out under the recently revised Montreal protocol.

§ Mr. Flynn
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements exist for the recovery of chlorofluorocarbons in refrigeration and refrigeration units used by his Department and research laboratories sponsored by his Department.

§ Mr. Chris Patten
My Department does not have to dispose of a significant amount of refrigeration equipment. We have, however, identified facilities which provide for the safe disposal of such items and the recycling of any CFC gases.

§ Mr. Flynn
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why the United Kingdom decided not to sign the proposals sponsored by Finland at the amendment conference on the Montreal protocol in London in June to bring forward the date for the phase-out of chlorofluorocarbon use to 1997.

§ Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State nor my hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside was asked to sign the proposal. However, we are firmly committed to the phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons, with exemption for essential medical uses, by 1997. We will be pressing the European Commission to bring forward proposals to this end.

§ Mr. Flynn
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, following the agreement made at the recent London amendment conference of the Montreal protocol on the protection of the ozone layer, he has any 719W plans to make arrangements with (a) foreign embassies and consulates and (b) United States military forces based in the United Kingdom for the safe recovery of all chlorofluorocarbons in refrigeration and air conditioning in their premises.

§ Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
Foreign embassies and consulates are responsible for their own maintenance and facilities in the United Kingdom. Maintenance of United States military installations is managed on their behalf by PSA and appropriate procedures are already used in handling and disposal of equipment containing chlorofluorocarbons.

§ Mr. Flynn
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the agreement made by Her Majesty's Government for the phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons use by 2000 applies to(a) Her Majesty's Crown Territories of Hong Kong, (b) the Falkland Islands, (c) Gibraltar and (d) the Channel Islands.

§ Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
Her Majesty's Government's ratification of the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, and the recently agreed adjustments, apply to Hong Kong, the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar and Jersey. Arrangements are in hand to apply them to Guernsey.