HC Deb 01 December 1992 vol 215 cc121-2W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) if he will implement a refrigerant recycling and reclaim policy covering all departmental equipment currently using chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons; if he will publish targets for departmental reuse and recycling; if he will implement an equipment conversion and replacement programme for all departmental uses of chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will introduce a leakage prevention programme for all refrigeration and air conditioning equipment owned and operated by his Department; if he will publish targets for reductions in leakages; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Forth

Property Holdings, or its appointed contractors, maintains all the Department's refrigeration and air-conditioning plant, under its standard option arrangements. The Department depends on these arrangements to control the use of ozone-destroying chemicals, and to recycle any waste from this plant.

There have been no leaks of ozone-depleting chemicals recorded in the Department for the last five years. Leaks are prevented by the application of planned maintenance regimes. The disposal and recycling of all controlled waste material is governed by the duty of care regulations. The Department does not currently have sufficient information to publish targets for the reuse and recycling of CFCs and HCFCs.

In the case of light equipment, such as fire extinguishers and domestic fridges, the Department observes guidance disseminated by the Department of the Environment. This has led, for instance, to the replacement of all the Department's halon fire extinguishers with environmentally friendly alternatives.

The Department's purchasing policy is to avoid buying materials and equipment that rely on ozone-depleting substances in their use or manufacture, unless suitable alternative products are unavailable. A reduction in the amount of ozone-depleting chemicals used in its premises will automatically follow as a result of the implementation of this purchasing policy.