§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will support proposals circulated by the Dutch Government at the September meeting of the international negotiating committee—INC 10—to restrict the use of HFCs to applications where there are no viable alternatives to those HFCs with low global warming potential and to where leaks can be avoided.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe document circulated at INC 10 was a report on the likely global warming effects of various HFC emissions control scenarios and, as such, was not a proposal by the Dutch Government. United Kingdom policy on HFCs is set out in sections 6.37 to 6.39 of the United Kingdom climate change programme, a copy of which is in the House Library.
§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress green Ministers have made in eliminating CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs from the Government estate.
§ Mr. AtkinsGreen Ministers have encouraged the elimination of ozone-depleting substances and Departments have prepared action plans showing how they will reduce use and emissions of these substances,
§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he has given to waste regulation authorities to ensure that they uphold the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 relating to the deliberate release of CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs; and what action he will take if this guidance is not acted upon.
§ Mr. AtkinsGuidance on the application of waste law to ozone-depleting substances is contained in paragraphs 4.95 to 4.103 of DOE circular November 94. I fully expect waste regulation authorities to act upon this guidance.
§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance his Department has produced to help refrigeration engineers and technicians to assist in his policy of phasing out CFCs and HCFCs and limiting the use of HFCs.
§ Mr. AtkinsGuidance for the refrigeration industry is contained in the DTI publication,"Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. CFC Phaseout: Advice on Alternatives and Guidelines for Users." A second edition should be published by the end of November.
§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has held on the strategies for phasing out CFCs and HCFCs in refrigeration and limiting the use of HFCs with(a) ICI, (b) Calor Gas, (c) Sainsburys, (d) Tesco and (e) Iceland.
§ Mr. AtkinsMy officials hold regular meetings with the refrigeration industry at which retailers and producers1150W are represented. Discussions have also taken place with Calor Gas concerning hydrocarbon refrigerants. In addition, representatives of the refrigeration industry met my predecessor last year, and I shall be meeting them later this month.