§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department has taken to notify(a) consultants and (b) producers involved in advising on the installation of air conditioning during refurbishment of Government buildings of the Government's view on hydrofluorocarbons as a non-sustainable technology; and if she will make a statement. [41182]
§ Mr. MeacherThe position of HFCs was made clear in the UK climate change programme that was produced in November 2000. It recognised that HFCs are not sustainable in the long-term and that technological developments may eventually make it possible to replace them in applications where they are used. The programme also stated that HFC emission reduction strategies should not undermine commitments to phase out ozone-depleting substances under the Montreal protocol while making it clear they should only be used where other safe, technically feasible, cost-effective and more environmentally acceptable alternatives do not exist. This position is reflected in the advice make available on the Greening Government website for managers on the Government estate, consultants and manufacturers of air conditioning systems. However, there may be scope under the EC procurement rules for Government Departments to work more closely with their suppliers and this is one of the issues that is being considered by the cross-Government Sustainable Procurement Group recently established by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.