FUNDING FOR DEVON'S DISPOSAL OF REFRIGERATORS

That this House notes that the Government proposes to fund the additional costs to Devon 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 ú455,689; further notes that the estimated actual cost by Devon County Council for the storage and disposal of redundant refrigerators during this time period is ú1,056,000; and in addition to the estimated cost to North Devon District Council, South Hams District Council, and West Devon Borough Council of ú36,000, ú6,900 and ú16,551 respectively, unknown costs for the collection of redundant refrigerators are also being incurred by East Devon District Council and Exeter City Council; recognises thereby that the total extra cost in Devon County Council is in excess of ú1,115,511; 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 Devon which will not be less than ú659,822.