Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 17 June 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 25 June 2003. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Wednesday, 25 June 2003 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent research has been conducted by and for her Department on the environmental impact of (a) wood, (b) plastic and (c) other material used in windows; and if she will place copies of documents published in the Library. - Inc ref to a life-cycle assessment of PVC and a range of alternative materials published by the then DETR in September 2000, copy placed in the Library.

Answer: Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research has been conducted by and for her Department on the environmental impact of (a) wood, (b) plastic and (c) other material used in windows; and if she will place copies of documents published in the Library. [120521] Mr. Morley: A life-cycle assessment of PVC and a range of alternative materials was published by the then DETR in September 2000. It included an assessment of the environmental impact of a wooden window frame in comparison to a PVC frame. Comparisons with other materials were made for other common uses of PVC ie packaging, drain pipes and flooring material. A copy of the report was placed in the Library at that time and a summary document aimed at the non-specialist is available on the Defra website at (www.defraweb/ environment/consult/pvc/index.htm

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 120521; 407 c770-1W;407 c774-5W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Construction Environment protection Plastics Waste management Research Waste disposal Timber Polyvinyl chloride Windows
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk