HC Deb 23 July 1993 vol 229 cc485-7W
Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. Yeo

My Department has taken action to deal with the proper disposal of the most significant ozone-depleting substances used on our premises. New guidance for procurement and accommodation officers instructs them to ensure that service contractors comply with best practice including professional guidance and relevant British standards.

Mr. Chris Smith

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

Mr. Yeo

The current EC regulations control the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances not their use.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the quantity of ozone-depleting substances recycled within the Department and returned to the manufacturer.

Mr. Yeo

Figures for the quantity of ozone-depleting substances recycled within the Department and returned to the manufacturer are not available. It is the Department's policy to recycle or dispose of such substances in an environmentally responsible manner.

Mr. Chris Smith

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

Mr. Yeo

None of my Department's uses of ozone-depleting chemicals will require continued production under the Montreal protocol or European Community essential use procedures.

Mr. Chris Smith

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

Mr. Yeo

Figures for how much the Department is spending to reduce its consumption of ozone-depleting substances are not available. My Department is taking a number of initiatives to eliminate the use of these substances on its premises including: the purchase of fridges free of ozone depleting substances, the replacement of halon fire extinguishers, a ban on the purchase of correction fluids containing 1.1.1-Trichloroethane; and a programme to identify and then replace CFCs and HCFCs in air conditioning plant.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. Yeo

New guidance for procurement and accommodation officers instructs them to ensure that service contractors comply with best practice including professional guidance and relevant British standards.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many chlorofluorocarbon domestic fridges are contained within Department buildings.

Mr. Yeo

Figures for the number of CFC domestic fridges contained within our many premises are not available. The numbers will decline as we continue our policy of replacing them with ozone-friendly fridges as they come to the end of their useful life.

Mr. Chris Smith

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

Mr. Yeo

No specific targets have been set. New guidance for procurement and accommodation officers instructs them to ensure that service contractors comply with best practice, including professional guidance and relevant British standards.

Mr. Chris Smith

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

Mr. Yeo

None.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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.

Mr. Yeo

Figures are not kept for the amount of ozone-depleting substances removed from departmental premises. My Department has just appointed consultants to review our environmental management systems and, as part of their brief, they will consider the need for such records.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many CFC and chlorofluorcarbon and hydrochlorofluorocarbon installations are contained within Department buildings.

Mr. Yeo

No central records are kept of CFC and HCFC installations contained within departmental buildings, but the Department has just appointed consultants to review our environmental management systems and the development of procedures for keeping such records is part of their brief.

Mr. Chris Smith

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

Mr. Yeo

My Department has sought and received advice on substitutes for ozone-depleting chemicals from a variety of sources.

Mr. Chris Smith

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

Mr. Yeo

My Department's policy is to buy fridges which do not contain ozone-depleting substances in either the refrigerant or the insulation.

Mr. Chris Smith

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

Mr. Yeo

No such extinguishers are contained within the buildings for which my Department has lead responsibility.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what the latest available figures are for the Department's total purchase of chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons.

Mr. Yeo

Figures on the total amount of CFCs and HCFCs purchased by the Department are not available. It is the Department's policy to eliminate the use of ozone-depleting substances on its premises.

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what quantity of HCFC 22 is purchased by the Department per annum.

Mr. Yeo

Figures on the amount of HCFC 22 purchased annually are not available. It is my Department's policy to eliminate the use of ozone-depleting chemicals on its premises.