HC Deb 23 July 1993 vol 229 c483W
Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to(a) establish a target date for cutting methyl bromide use by 50 per cent. in the United Kingdom and (b) bring forward scheduled date for the phasing out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Yeo

The Government have no plans to cut methyl bromide use in the United Kingdom by 50 per cent. We support the Commission's proposal that consumption of HCFCs within the European Community should end by 2015.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have been undertaken at Council of Ministers level concerning(a) the phasing out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons and (b) reducing levels of methyl bromide; and what were the positions taken by representatives from Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands in the discussions.

Mr. Yeo

Numerous discussions on HCFCs and methyl bromide controls have taken place at the Council of Ministers level over the past year, notably at informal Councils during the renegotiation of the Montreal protocol in Copenhagen. The positions of the three countries mentioned have varied during this time.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has concerning emissions of methyl bromide from chemical plant processes in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Yeo

This information is not currently available.