HC Deb 15 March 1993 vol 221 cc87-8W
Mr. Elletson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to consider essential uses of CFCs under the terms of the Montreal protocol and European Community regulation 3952/92.

Mr. Maclean

The Government are today issuing a consultation paper which asks for nominations for potential candidates for "essential use" status for continued production of CFCs, carbon tetrachloride and 1,1,1 trichloroethane under the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer and European Community regulation 3952/92.

To be considered for "essential use" status, all applications must meet stringent criteria which have been agreed by parties to the protocol. The use must be necessary for the health and safety of society or critical for its functioning. There must be no technically and economically feasible alternatives available which are acceptable on health and environmental grounds. There must also be insufficient recycled material available for the proposed use, whether with regard to the quantity or quality of the material. "Essential uses" must be agreed by all parties.

Nominations have to be with the Montreal protocol secretariat by 30 September 1993. We do not yet know whether the EC timetable will be different, but it must take the protocol date into account. Closing date for the

Local authority income expressed as a percentage of total income
Per cent
Central Government Grants1 Non-domestic rates2 Domestic rates/ Community charges/ Council taxi3
1981–82 55 25 20
1982–83 53 26 21
1983–84 55 26 19
1984–85 54 26 20
1985–86 52 27 20
1986–87 50 28 22
1987–88 49 28 23
1988–89 47 28 25
1989–90 45 29 26
1990–91 42 29 28
1991–92 53 31 16

Government's consultation exercise is 30 April. All applications will be considered, but the Government are committed to keeping "essential uses" to a minimum. A list will be published of those candidates, if any, which the Government intend to nominate to the protocol and European Community processes.

Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.