§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whom he has consulted over the future of the Greater London council's seaside and country homes scheme and the Greater London mobility scheme since the Government's announcements that both would have a statutory basis upon the abolition of the Greater London council;
(2) if, following the Government's announcements that the Greater London council seaside and country homes scheme and the Greater London mobility scheme would have a statutory basis upon the abolition of the Greater London council, he intends to consult the Greater London council or the Association of London Authorities over the future of these schemes.
§ Sir George YoungNo formal consultations have yet been undertaken but, as my right hon. Friend said on 11 April at column 409, our proposals will be put to the authorities concerned in due course.
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§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council, who will assume responsibility for maintaining the Greater London council's London-wide photogrametric records of London's skylines and sensitivity to high buildings maps.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneIt will be for the London boroughs to decide whether to maintain such records.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how, in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council, he will ensure that local planning authorities abide by the provisions of their unitary plans; how any departures will be treated; and who will determine what constitutes a departure.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe responsibilty for development control will be consolidated at borough council level where decisions as to what constitutes a departure are generally already made. The Secretary of State will have the usual powers to call-in applications for his own determination.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council, what arrangements are proposed for the analysis and monitoring on a consistent basis of planning decisions across London.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe corporation of the City of London and the 32 London boroughs each make separate statistical returns to my Department. Our analysis and monitoring of planning decisions across London will therefore be unaffected by the abolition of the Greater London council.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements are proposed for the London-wide appraisal of development applications involving high buildings in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneIt will be for the London boroughs to consider such applications on their merits.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many boroughs in their response to the White Paper, "Streamlining the Cities", have supported the retention of a London-wide strategic plan.
§ Sir George YoungSix London boroughs supported the retention of a London-wide strategic plan, and six boroughs saw a need for a London-wide strategic planning body.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many responses by London borough councils to the Government's consultation paper "Streamlining the Cities: Housing" supported the proposal to remove the obligations imposed on the Greater London council in the orders transferring the Greater London council's housing stock to the London borough councils to renovate the stock to modern standards; and how many expressed concern about it or opposed it.
§ Sir George YoungNo London borough councils supported the proposal that the boroughs should carry out and finance renovation works; 9 opposed it. My right hon. Friend has said, in an answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, North (Mr. Burt) on 4 May 1984 at column 264–6, that in the light of comments account is to 263W be taken of the needs for improvement expenditure in the arrangements to maintain the broad financial effect of the GLC's obligatory revenue contributions within London after abolition.