Ten minute rule motion

A move to ban the use of gases linked to climate change in supermarket fridges has been launched in the Commons.

Labour MP Clive Efford called on stores to take urgent action and phase out the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in their refrigeration systems.

Launching a bill under the ten minute rule motion on 9 March 2010, he claimed HFCs can be up to 20,000 times more harmful than carbon dioxide.

The chemicals accounts for up to a third of the carbon footprint of most of the major food retailers, the MP for Eltham said.

Mr Efford said that only 46 supermarket sites in the UK are HFC-free out of around 8,400.

He called on ministers to take action, declaring "the time to regulate has come".

His bill was given a first reading by MPs but stands no chance of becoming law due to a lack of parliamentary time.