§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement regarding the current United Kingdom position in the Montreal protocol negotiations.
§ Mr. BaldryThe negotiations towards the 1992 revision of the Montreal protocol will begin in April 1992. The United Kingdom has first to reach agreement with other European member states. In view of the latest scientific findings on ozone depletion, the United Kingdom has proposed that the European Community position for the international negotiations should be: production and consumption of all CFCs and carbon tetrachloride to be phased out by 1 January 1996, with an interim cut of 85 per cent. by 1 January 1994; 1, 1, 1 trichloroethane to go by 1 January 1996, with a 50 per cent. cut by 1 January 1994; halons by 1 January 1995, with an interim cut of 50 per cent. by 1 January 1994. These phase-out dates, which would have a provision for essential uses, are the fastest which could be implemented internationally.