HL Deb 12 December 2001 vol 629 cc214-5WA
Lord Greaves

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What advice they have issued, when and to whom, since the formal agreement of EC Regulation No. 2037/2000 on 29 June 2000. [HL1794]

Lord Whitty

Since EC Regulation No. 2037/2000 gained formal agreement, the Government have issued advice in a number of ways. These include a series of guidance booklets to industry and others, covering the key elements of the regulation and advice for specific industry sectors (also available on world-wide web), letters to and meetings with stakeholders and response to enquiries from individuals.

The department wrote to English local authorities in October and December to outline the requirements of the regulation, its likely impact, and to issue guidance on the storage of fridges and freezers.

Retailers and other stakeholders have been kept informed of the impacts of EC Regulation No. 2037/2000 through a series of stakeholder meetings (both general and specifically for retailers). The department has also written to small retail businesses through a number of trade associations to outline the impacts of EC Regulation No. 2037/2000 on the management of waste fridges and freezers.

The department's web-site www.defra.gov.uk contains information relating to all these issues. An information leaflet for house-holders wishing to dispose of their fridges and freezers has been developed and circulated to retailers and local authorities for their use.

Lord Greaves

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What advice they are currently giving to retailers of refrigerators and to local authorities in the light of EC Regulation No. 2037/2000. [HL1795]

Lord Whitty

Officials have had regular contact with retailers and local authorities, including through stakeholder meetings. The department has recently written to all English local authorities to issue guidance on the storage of waste refrigeration equipment, prior to CFC extraction, and to provide information for householders disposing of fridges and freezers. An information note for householders informing them of how to dispose of their fridge or freezer has been issued to retailers and local authorities for their use. The department's web-sitewww.defra.gov.ukalso contains information on the requirements of the regulation with regard to the management of waste fridges and freezers.