FUNDING FOR SUFFOLK'S DISPOSAL OF REFRIGERATORS

Early day motion 352, tabled 11 December 2002 by Jonathan Sayeed (Conservative). Signed by 22 members.

That this House notes that the Government proposes to fund the additional costs to Suffolk 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 ú430,333; further notes that the estimated actual cost by Suffolk County Council for the storage and disposal of redundant refrigerators during this period is ú900,000 and in addition to the estimated cost to Ipswich Borough Council and Waverley District Council of ú25,500 and ú225,000, unknown costs for the collection of redundant refrigerators are also being incurred by Babergh District Council, Forest Health District Council, Mid Suffolk District Council, St Edmundsbury Borough Council and Suffolk Coastal District Council; recognises thereby that the total extra cost in Suffolk County Council is in excess of ú1,150,500; 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 Suffolk which will not be less than ú720,167.

Signatures by party: Conservative 19, Liberal Democrat 2, Independent Conservative 1.