HC Deb 28 January 1993 vol 217 cc819-21W
Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what proportion of his Department's consumption of ozone-depleting substances become controlled waste in terms of section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990;

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

Mr. Atkins

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 does not extend to Northern Ireland. Ozone-depleting substances which become waste are disposed of in an environmentally acceptable way.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many catastrophic leaks of ozone-depleting substances have occurred within his Department's buildings in the last five years.

Mr. Atkins

None.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many chlorofluorocarbon domestic fridges are contained within his Department's buildings;

(2) how many CFC and HCFC installations are contained within his Department's buildings.

Mr. Atkins

The information is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures have been taken to ensure that ozone-destroying substances in use by his Department, identified as controlled waste under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, do not reach the atmosphere.

Mr. Atkins

All relevant equipment is checked for leakage during routine planned maintenance.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what targets have been set for the recycling of ozone-depleting chemicals within departmental buildings.

Mr. Atkins

None.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide details from the maintenance and servicing record of the quantity and type of ozone-destroying chemicals used annually in his Department's refrigeration and air conditioning equipment for servicing and in leakages; and what proportion is removed for recycling.

Mr. Atkins

The information sought is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding has been allocated or spent to specifically deal with measures to reduce his Department's consumption of ozone-depleting substances.

Mr. Atkins

Funding is not specifically allocated for measures to reduce the Department's consumption of ozone-depleting substances. Where plant can be modified or is replaced zero or low ozone-depleting substances are used.

Mr. Chris Smith

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

Mr. Atkins

Use in certain refrigeration plant and refrigerators which have not yet reached the end of their useful lives.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the quantity of ozone-depleting substances recycled within his Department and returned to the manufacturer;

(2) what quantity of HCFC 22 is purchased by his Department per annum;

(3) what the latest figures are for his Department's total purchase of CFCs and HCFCs.

Mr. Atkins

The information sought is not available.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by what date his Department's use of ozone-depleting chemicals will conform with EC regulations on limits on these chemicals.

Mr. Atkins

The Department's policy is to eliminate the use of ozone depleting chemicals if possible in advance of the dates set out in the EC regulation and the Montreal protocol.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy to purchase only ozone-friendly fridges that do not contain CFCs or HCFCs for his Department.

Mr. Atkins

Department policy is to purchase only those fridges which contain ozone-friendly refrigerants.

Mr. Chris Smith

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

Mr. Atkins

Guidance on alternatives or substitutes to ozone-destroying chemicals is obtained from the chemical and refrigeration industries, appropriate professional institutions, relevant official publications and the Building Research Establishment.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State fo Northern Ireland how many portable halon fir extinguishers are contained within departmental buildings; and what measures are being taken to ensure the recycling and replacement.

Mr. Atkins

Information on the number of Halon extinguishers is not held centrally and could only he obtained at disproportionate cost.

Where a Halon extinguisher has been discharged, damaged or reached the end of its recommended working life it is replaced with a carbon dioxide extinguisher.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many refrigeration and air conditioning systems in his Department are equipped with automatic leak detection systems.

Mr. Atkins

None.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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.

Mr. Atkins

I have promoted protection of the ozone layer by specific policy measures relating to the recovery and recycling of ozone-depleting chemicals. Other measures to reduce the use of these chemicals, or products containing them, include a purchasing requirement—whether for goods or services—to seek out and use suitable substitutes. A measure which has been rejected is the complete replacement of existing plant or supplies containing these substances, which would be cost prohibitive.