FUNDING FOR NORFOLK'S DISPOSAL OF REFRIGERATORS

EDM number 355 in 2002-03, proposed by Gillian Shephard on 11/12/2002.

That this House notes that the Government proposes to fund the additional costs to Norfolk 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 ú517,873; further notes that the estimated actual costs by Norfolk County Council for the storage and disposal of redundant refrigerators during this time is ú1,250,000; and, in addition to the estimated cost to South Norfolk District Council of ú28,126, unknown costs for the collection of redundant refrigerators are also being incurred by Breckland District Council, Broadland District Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, King's Lynn-West Norfolk Borough Council, North Norfolk District Council and Norwich City Council; recognises thereby that the total extra cost in Norfolk County Council is in excess of ú1,278,126; 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' (HC Official Report, 14th January, column 125), calls upon the Government to make clear how it intends to fund the shortfall in Norfolk County Council which will not be less than ú760,253.

This motion has been signed by a total of 25 MPs.