FUNDING FOR KENT'S DISPOSAL OF REFRIGERATORS

EDM number 345 in 2002-03, proposed by Damian Green on 10/12/2002.

That this House notes that the Government proposes to fund the additional costs to Kent County Council, as a result of implementing Article 162(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 ú972,860; further notes that the estimated actual cost by Kent County Council for the storage and disposal of redundant refrigerators during this time period is ú1,800,000; and that in addition to the estimated cost to Dartford Borough Council, Dover District Council and Thanet District Council of ú2,812, ú1,200 and ú37,164 respectively, unknown costs for the collection of redundant refrigerators are also being incurred by Ashford Borough Council, Maidstone Borough Council, Shepway District Council, Swale Borough Council, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council; recognises thereby that the total extra cost in Kent County Council is in excess of ú1,841,173; 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, c125), calls upon the Government to make clear how it intends to fund the shortfall in Kent County Council which will not be less than ú868,316.

This motion has been signed by a total of 26 MPs.