PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
FUNDING FOR HAMPSHIRE'S DISPOSAL OF REFRIGERATORS (12 December 2002)

That this House notes that the Government proposes to fund the additional costs to Hampshire 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 ú842,677; further notes that the estimated actual cost of Hampshire County Council for the storage and disposal of redundant refrigerators during this time period is ú1,200,000 and that in addition to the estimated cost to Fareham Borough Council, Havant Borough Council and New Forest District Council of ú16,620, ú53,760 and ú34,000, respectively, unknown costs for the collection of redundant refrigerators are also being incurred by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Gosport Borough Council, Hart District Council, Rushmoor Borough Council and Test Valley Borough Council; recognises thereby that the total extra cost in Hampshire County Council is in excess of ú1,304,380; 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 Hampshire which will not be less that ú461,703.

Sponsored by:
Lord Young of Cookham (Conservative)