FUNDING FOR WEST SUSSEX'S DISPOSAL OF REFRIGERATORS

EDM number 339 in 2002-03, proposed by Nicholas Soames on 10/12/2002.

That this House notes that the Government proposes to fund the additional costs to West Sussex 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 ú535,815; further notes that the estimated actual cost for West Sussex County Council for the storage and disposal of redundant refrigerators during this period is ú1,000,000 and that in addition to the estimated cost to Mid Sussex District Council of ú33,046, unknown costs for the collection of redundant refrigerators are also being incurred by Adur District Council, Arun District Council, Chichester District Council, Crawley Borough Council and Horsham District Council; recognises thereby that the total extra cost in West Sussex County Council is in excess of ú1,033,046; 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 West Sussex which will not be less than ú497,231.

This motion has been signed by a total of 24 MPs.