§ Mr. HendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what basis the money allocated to local authorities to assist in meeting the costs involved in storing(a) refrigerators and (b) freezers, will be divided between different local authorities; and how much she expects each local authority to receive. [40084]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 4 March 2002]: In early December 2001, I announced a payment of £6 million to cover local authority costs from January to March 2002. This payment will be made through the Revenue Support Grant for 2002–03 and will be distributed to waste disposal authorities according to the Standard 644W Spending Assessment Formula. We are monitoring the impact of the Regulation to assess what further action is required.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement indicating what her understanding is of whether sections in Article 5, Paragraph (d) of EC Regulation 2037/2000 (29 June 2000) apply to insulating materials used in refrigerators and freezers. [39994]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 4 March 2002]: The UK Government's interpretation of Article 5(1)(d) (iv) of EC Regulation 2037/2000 is that it prohibits the use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) for the production of polyurethane foams for appliances, including refrigerators and freezers, from 1 January 2003.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement indicating her understanding of the way in which Article 16 of EU Regulation 2037/2000, paragraph 3 affects the implementation of paragraph 2. [39996]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 4 March 2002]: In June 2001, the European Commission gave EU Member States a definitive clarification of Article 16(2) of EC Regulation 2037/2000. It required ozone-depleting substances (ODS) in domestic fridges and freezers, either used as the refrigerant or to blow the insulating foam, to be recovered and dealt with as provided for in Article 16(1) after 31 December 2001. Article 16(3) of EC Regulation 2037/2000 applies to the recovery, if practicable, and recycling, reclamation or destruction of any ODS contained in equipment, systems and appliances not specified in either Article 16(1) or 16(2). Therefore Article 16(3) does not affect the implementation of Article 16(2).