§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the economic viability of replacing ozone depleting substances with non-ozone depleting substances. [48073]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 10 April 2002]: In December 1998, the Department produced a Regulatory Impact Assessment of the EC's proposal for a Regulation which became EC Regulation 2037/2000. This considered two options; either to agree the proposal as it stood, or to argue for modifications to the proposed controls which went beyond the requirements of the Montreal Protocol where these would deliver no real environmental benefit 1193W or where the costs of compliance would he disproportionate. As a result of consultation with interested parties, the Government agreed to the proposal in broad terms following changes made during negotiations to some of the proposed controls that in the UK's view were disproportionate.
§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations her Department has made to other EU Governments regarding the length of period for which use of ozone depleting substances will remain permissible. [48071]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 10 April 2002]: My officials meet regularly with counterparts from other EC Member States to discuss issues arising from EC Regulation 2037/2000 on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Together with the European Commission, the UK and other Member States consider possible EC proposals for improving and strengthening the Montreal Protocol. EC Regulation 2037/2000 itself goes considerably further than the Protocol in controlling and phasing out ozone-depleting substances. For example, HCFCs are to be phased out under the Protocol by 2030 and under the Regulation by 2015.
§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she proposes to take to promote the use of non-ozone depleting refrigerants which have been developed in the UK. [48072]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 10 April 2002]: The key measure is enforcement of EC Regulation 2037/2000 on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer as this puts pressure on producers, suppliers and users of refrigerants to use alternatives to CFCs through the ban on use and supply and HCFCs through use controls on new and existing equipment. The Department with DTI produced the guidance document, "Refrigeration & Air Conditioning—CFC and HCFC Phase Out: Advice on Alternatives and Guidelines for Users". It is available on the DTI's website, www.dti.gov.uk/access/ozone.htm.