§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. MacleanMy Department has a comprehensive green housekeeping strategy in place which aims to prevent leakages of ozone-depleting refrigerants through the regular servicing of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. It deals with the scrutiny of materials used by contractors, the storage and disposal of ozone-depleting substances and compliance with the professional codes of practice.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will implement a refrigerant recycling and reclaim policy covering all departmental equipment current 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. MacleanMy Department already has a policy on its use of ozone-depleting substances. It is included in its statement on green housekeeping which was published in March 1992 and, among other things, commits the Department to eliminating the use of substances such as CFCs, halons, carbon tetrachloride and 1,1,1 trichloroethane. It also stipulates that the chemicals being replaced should be recycled in products where no alternative is available.
The policy is being implemented through a comprehensive green housekeeping action plan which was issued to departmental operational managers in October.
The Department does not presently have sufficient information to publish targets for departmental reuse and recycling.