Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent estimate he has made of the amount of SF6 gas that is (a) manufactured in the UK, (b) imported in to the UK and (c) exported from the UK.

Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF₆) is a potent fluorinated greenhouse gas (F-gas) that contributes to climate change. F-gases currently represent about 3% of UK greenhouse gas emissions, with SF₆ emissions representing around 3% of those F-gas emissions. The UK has made significant progress in reducing and controlling the use of F-gases, highlighted by the 34.3% reduction in UK emissions of all F-gases since 1995 levels.

Compliance with the F-gas Regulation 2014 is how the UK currently controls SF₆ emissions. Under the Regulation, equipment containing SF₆ is subject to requirements on leak reduction, checking and rapid repair using appropriately qualified personnel. The intentional release of SF₆ is also prohibited and steps must be taken to minimise unintentional release.

We are currently reviewing the provisions of the F-gas Regulation which we are required to complete by no later than 2022. As part of the review, we will consider how we can go further in support of the UK's net zero target. We will be assessing all parts of the Regulation, including the provisions relating to SF₆ use, in light of this.