§ 2. Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is in a position to estimate the additional block grant which will be payable to London boroughs and joint boards in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. William Waldegrave)No, Sir. The level of London's block grant after abolition will depend on the spending decisions of the authorities which take on responsibilities from the GLC.
§ Mr. BanksDoes the Under-Secretary of State agree that is most unlikely that the figures bandied about by the Government are in any way acceptable to the Opposition—or even obtainable, given the pathetic record of the Secretary of State, who reorganised the area health authorities, and the fact that the savings he claimed never appeared? How can we have any faith in the statements made by the shambles on the Government Front Bench?
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe hon. Gentleman's rhetoric was not a sensible question. Obviously, the policy will deliver savings. That is part of the reason why the policy is being opposed by vested interests, perhaps those represented by the hon. Gentleman, who do not want those savings to be made.