§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what advice he gives to consumers on purchasing ozone-friendly fridges;
(2) what advice he makes available to consumers who wish to avoid purchasing products that contain, or have been manufactured, by using ozone-depleting chemicals.
§ Mr. TrippierI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) on 10 March 1992,Official Report, columns 450–51.
§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to use his powers under part I, section 3 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to prohibit the production and release of ozone-depleting chemicals.
§ Mr. TrippierMy right hon. Friend does not intend to do so—the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances is controlled by EC regulation 594/91, which is directly applicable in United Kingdom law.
§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the amount in tonnes of chlorofluorocarbons recycled in the United Kingdom in each year from 1985 to 1991 inclusive.
§ Mr. TrippierThis information is not available.
§ Mr. Wlin GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish annually the United Kingdom consumption and production of ozone-depleting chemicals.
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§ Mr. TrippierFigures for United Kingdom production of ozone-depleting substances are supplied to the Government on a confidential basis. Consumption figures are collected on a European Community basis and not broken down between member states. However, a 1990 Department of Trade and Industry study indicated that United Kingdom consumption fell by 50 per cent. between 1986 and 1989, a rate faster than that claimed by any other developed country.
§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement outlining his policy on the production and emission of hydrochlorofluorocarbons.
§ Mr. TrippierThe Government have proposed a phase-out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons early next century, together with controls on the level of consumption and on applications in which these substances can be used. These proposals will be considered by the EC Environment Council on 23 March.
§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all essential uses of ozone-depleting chemicals that would be exempt from currently proposed EC legislation.
§ Mr. TrippierDecisions on any essential use exemptions from the regulations controlling ozone-depleting substances will be made closer to the final phase-out dates. These will be taken at the European Community level, and no member state will be able to make unilateral decisions.