FUNDING FOR LANCASHIRE'S DISPOSAL OF REFRIGERATORS

EDM number 338 in 2002-03, proposed by Nigel Evans on 10/12/2002.

That this House notes that the Government proposes to fund the additional costs to Lancashire 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 ú797,677; further notes that the estimated actual cost by Lancashire County Council for the storage and disposal of redundant refrigerators during this time period is ú1,250,000, and that in addition to the estimated cost for Pendle Borough Council, West Lancashire District Council, Lancaster City Council and Wyre Borough Council of ú58,000, ú18,342, ú6,750 and ú1,600 respectively, unknown costs for the collection of redundant refrigerators are also being incurred by Burnley Borough Council, Chorley Borough Council, Fylde Borough Council, Hyndburn Borough Council, Preston Borough Council, Ribble Valley Borough Council, Rossendale Borough Council, and South Ribble Borough Council; recognises thereby that the total extra cost in Lancashire County Council is in excess of ú1,334,692; 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 Lancashire County Council which will not be less than ú537,015.

This motion has been signed by a total of 22 MPs.