§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is their view, as implied in their answer of 10th July (HL Deb, col. 253) on research into replacements for chlorofluorocarbons, that such research has to be "consistent with [the] commercial priorities [of] the two UK CFC manufacturers", and, if it should not prove consistent with those priorities, what is to happen to it.
§ Lord TrefgarneThe previous Question and Answer related only to research into the long term safety of substances to replace chlorofluorocarbons. Whether a company decides to develop or produce such substances and, if it does, whether and to what extent it does so in collaboration with other companies (including research into safety aspects) is a matter for its commercial judgment. Should a company decide, consistent with its commercial priorities, not to develop particular substances, it is of course open to its competitors to make their own decisions as to whether or not, and if so how, to do so themselves.