FUNDING FOR LEICESTERSHIRE'S DISPOSAL OF REFRIGERATORS

EDM number 336 in 2002-03, proposed by Andrew Robathan on 10/12/2002.

That this House notes that the Government proposes to fund the additional costs to Leicestershire County Council as a result of implementing Article 16(2) of EC Regulation 2037/00 on Ozone Depleting Substances in the period from 1st April 2002 to 31st March 2003 by means of a special grant allocation of ú375,353; further notes that the estimated actual cost by Leicestershire County Council for the storage and disposal of redundant refrigerators during this period is ú602,000, and that in addition to the estimated cost to Charnwood Borough Council Hinckley-Bosworth Borough Council and Melton Borough Council of ú3,300, ú16,430 and ú12,750 respectively, unknown costs for the collection of redundant refrigerators are also being incurred by Blaby District Council, North West Leicestershire District Council and Oadby-Wigston Borough Council; recognises thereby that the total extra cost in Leicestershire County Council is in excess of ú634,480; and, in view of the statement by the Minister for the Environment, the Right honourable Member for Oldham West and Royton on local authority funding that 'We are ... taking the realistic view that if extra duties are imposed they should be reasonably funded. That is the Government's policy' (Official Report, 14th January, column 125), calls upon the Government to make clear how it intends to fund the shortfall in Leicestershire which will not be less than ú259,127.

This motion has been signed by a total of 25 MPs.