§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. AtkinsRoutine maintenance of all refrigeration and air conditioning equipment includes a leakage test. Where a leak occurs or major maintenance work is being undertaken in equipment which uses chlorofluorocarbons or hydrochlorofluorocarbons, these are replaced by ozone-friendly refrigerants. In other cases, equipment containing CFCs and HCFCs is replaced when it reaches the end of its useful life.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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 CFCs and HCFCs; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AtkinsIn Northern Ireland the Department of the Environment has advised the public sector on the use and reduction of CFCs and halons. It has also worked closely with the district councils, which are responsible for waste collection and disposal in the Province, on the extraction and recycling of ozone-depleting gases from redundant fridges and freezers from all sectors. Each council now has access to a CFC removal facility and any gases which have been removed are recycled by ICI. It is policy that any departmental equipment which becomes redundant is replaced by more environmentally acceptable equipment and I will publish targets in a forthcoming strategy document.