HC Deb 16 December 1992 vol 216 cc223-5W
Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many castrophic leaks of ozone-depleting substances have occurred within her Department's buildings in the last five years;

(2) how many refrigeration and air conditioning systems in her Department are equipped with automatic leak detection systems;

(3) what quantity of HCFC 22 is purchased by her Department per annum;

(4) if she will provide details from the maintenance and servicing record of the quantity and type of ozone-destroying chemicals used annually in her Department's refrigeration and air conditioning equipment for servicing and in leakages; and what proportion is removed for recycling;

(5) what are the latest available figures for her Department's total purchase of CFCs and HCFCs;

(6) how many CFC and HCFC installations are contained within her Department's buildings;

(7) how much funding has been allocated or spent to specifically deal with measures to reduce her Department's consumption of ozone-depleting substances;

(8) how many chlorofluorocarbon domestic fridges are contained within her Department's buildings;

(9) to ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of her Department's consumption of ozone depleting substances becomes controlled waste in terms of section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990;

(10) what is the quantity of ozone-depleting substances recycled within her Department and returned to the manufacturer.

Mr. Sackville

This information is not available centrally.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will give an undertaking to purchase only ozone-friendly fridges that do not contain chlorofluorocarbons or hydrochlorofluorocarbons for her Department;

(2) what action has been taken to ensure that ozone-destroying substances consumed by her Department are identified as controlled wastes when they are no longer in use;

(3) what measures have been taken to ensure that ozone-destroying substances in use by her Department identified as controlled waste under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 do not reach the atmosphere;

(4) by what date her Department's use of ozone-depleting chemicals will conform to EC regulations on limits on these chemicals;

(5) how the departmental Green Minister has promoted protection of the ozone layer with specific policy measures; which possible measures have been considered and rejected; and on what grounds;

(6) what targets have been set for the recycling of ozone-depleting chemicals within the departmental buildings.

Mr. Sackville

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 30 November at columns74–75.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which current uses of ozone-depleting chemicals by her Department are considered essential.

Mr. Sackville

Equipment in the national health service that still requires ozone-depleting agents includes refrigeration equipment and plant, which uses the less damaging hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and certain fire extinguishing systems where no alternative materials are currently available. For chlorofluorocarbons used for essential medical purposes I refer the hon. Member to the reply my predecessor gave to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) on 12 March 1992 at column628.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance has been sought and received on alternatives or substitutes to the ozone-destroying chemicals in use by her Department.

Mr. Sackville

The Department has been following technical developments both nationally and internationally and the information acquired is, and will continue to be used, in the preparation of guidance for the national health service. Guidance on refrigerants and air conditioning will be issued next year.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many portable halon fire extinguishers are contained within departmental buildings; and what measures are being taken to ensure their recycling and replacement.

Mr. Sackville

The information requested is not available centrally. Guidance will be issued in spring 1993 to assist the national health service to control the use of halon in accordance with the Montreal protocol.