§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his Department's policy on purchasing ozone-depleting chemicals and goods manufactured with these substances; and in which year his Department expects to cease using, purchasing or releasing ozone-depleting substances, controlled by the Montreal protocol and HCFCs.
Mr. Atkin[holding answer 22 June 1992]: The Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments purchasing criteria includes a requirement to seek out and use suitable substitutes. Our policy, in line with the rest of the United Kingdom, is to eliminate the use of these products, if possible, in advance of the date set out in the EC regulation and Montreal protocol. We will consider the use of HCFCs when discussions on their control under the Montreal protocol are completed.