§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the full-year cost to local authorities of the new regulations on the recycling of fridges. [22072]
§ Mr. MeacherThe costs to local authorities will vary depending on the length of time fridges and freezers must be stored. The Department has recently announced a payment of £6 million to local authorities to cover their costs until March 2002. We are also urgently considering what action needs to be taken to encourage the reinstatement of take-back schemes previously operating, which would reduce the burden on local authorities.