asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what practical measures he is taking to ensure that the United Kingdom complies with its obligation as a signatory to the Vienna convention for the protection of the ozone layer to control activities likely to have harmful effects on the layer.

The Vienna convention has not yet entered into force. However, the United Kingdom and other European Community member states agreed precautionary measures in 1980 to limit emissions of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which have the potential to deplete the ozone layer. We are currently participating in negotiations of a protocol to the convention to control CFC emissions globally.