FUNDING FOR CORNWALL'S DISPOSAL OF REFRIGERATORS

EDM number 343 in 2002-03, proposed by Jonathan Sayeed on 10/12/2002.

That this House notes that the Government proposes to fund the additional costs to Cornwall 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 ú319,758; further notes that the estimated actual cost by Cornwall County Council for the storage and disposal of redundant refrigerators during this time period is ú500,000, and that in addition to the estimated cost to Penwith District Council of ú3,000, unknown costs for the collection of redundant refrigerators are also being incurred by Caradon District Council, Carrick District Council, Kerrier District Council, North Cornwall District Council and Restormel Borough Council; recognises thereby that the total extra cost in Cornwall is in excess of ú503,000; 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 2002, c125), calls upon the Government to make clear how it intends to fund the shortfall in Cornwall which will not be less than ú183,242.

This motion has been signed by a total of 21 MPs.