HC Deb 09 December 1985 vol 88 cc471-2W
Mr. O'Brien

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the levy on each authority in west Yorkshire for waste disposal, as defined in the Local Government Act 1985; and how the levy is arrived at.

Mrs. Rumbold

The authorities responsible for waste disposal in west Yorkshire will be the metropolitan district councils. They will meet their expenditure from their general rate funds in accordance with the agreement which they have made for joint arrangements for the discharge of this service.

Mr. O'Brien

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements are made for the capital allocations by the district councils in west Yorkshire for waste disposal after 1 April 1986.

Mrs. Rumbold

We have invited the local authority associations and others for comment on the proposal that my Department should invite bids for waste disposal capital resources for 1986–87 from all waste disposal authorities in Greater London and the metropolitan counties (including each district council in west Yorkshire) and should make allocations in the light of these bids. We are considering the responses.

Mr. O'Brien

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the arrangements for the payment of capital debt for waste disposal in west Yorkshire.

Mrs. Rumbold

We propose that responsibility for servicing this debt should be discharged by the districts in the county in proportion to population.

Mr. O'Brien

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of implementation by the residuary body of the arrangements for waste regulation and disposal in west Yorkshire under the Local Government Act 1985.

Mrs. Rumbold

Under section 9 of, and schedule 6 to, the Local Government Act 1985 it is the metropolitan district councils in west Yorkshire, and not the residuary body, that become responsible at abolition for the waste regulation and disposal functions of the country council. Where these councils could with advantage make joint arrangements for these functions and had not done so by 15 November 1985, my right hon. Friend is under a duty to set up a single authority for those functions. However, as my right hon. Friend announced on 21 November, the district councils in west Yorkshire have made satisfactory joint arrangements for the discharge of these functions, and there is therefore no need for my right hon. Friend to intervene.