asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if there is any recent evidence available to his Department on the damage to the ozone layer by the use of chlorofluorocarbons in aerosols and other equipment; and if he will make a statement.

The Department is making a significant contribution through its research programme to study what is known as the Antarctic ozone hole and is keeping in close touch with the results of other relevant international work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to restrict the use of chlorofluorocarbons; and if he will make a statement.

Any restrictions of the use of chlorofluorocarbons would be a matter for the European Community as a whole. There are no current EC legislative proposals but the Community is taking part in global negotiations for a CFC protocol to the Vienna convention for the protection of the ozone layer.