FUNDING FOR WILTSHIRE'S DISPOSAL OF REFRIGERATORS

EDM number 364 in 2002-03, proposed by Michael Ancram on 12/12/2002.

That this House notes that the Government proposes to fund the additional costs to Wiltshire 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 ú259,965; further notes that the estimated actual cost by Wiltshire County Council for the storage and disposal of redundant refrigerators during this time period is ú547,500 and in addition to the estimated cost to Salisbury District Council of ú20,160, unknown costs for the collection of redundant refrigerators are also being incurred by Kennet District Council, North Wiltshire District Council and West Wiltshire District Council; recognises thereby that the total extra cost in Wiltshire County Council is in excess of ú567,660; 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 Wiltshire which will not be less than ú307,695.

This motion has been signed by a total of 8 MPs.