§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is her policy that, under the terms of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, developed countries' production allowance for chlorofluorocarbons for export to meet the basic domestic needs of developing countries should be further reduced below the percentages allowed in the Beijing Adjustment to the Protocol; and whether the United Kingdom will raise this issue as one to be advanced by the EC in this year's meeting of the parties to the Protocol. [105627]
§ Mr. MeacherThe UK is keen to ensure that there is no oversupply of CFCs in developing countries as a result of production for basic domestic needs, as this could lead to CFCs being available at lower prices than alternatives and hence could jeopardise developing countries' compliance with consumption controls under the Montreal Protocol. The European Commission is currently finalising a study on the production of CFCs in both developed and developing countries for basic domestic needs and the level of supply of these substances. Based on the conclusions in this report we will consider, with the Commission and other EU member states, what further adjustments to the levels of production agreed in Beijing in 1999 might be appropriate for consideration by the Parties to the Protocol at their meeting this year. The UK is a member of a working group of member states established by the Commission to discuss this.