HC Deb 26 November 1984 vol 68 cc397-8W
Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council, what arrangements will be made for the residuary body to meet the cost of payments due under the Pensions (Increase) Acts.

Sir George Young

I refer the hon. Member to clauses 58 and 70 of the Local Government Bill.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council, he will take steps to confer on successor bodies the power to pay gratuities to their employees under the provisions of section 18 of the Local Government Superannuation Act 1953.

Sir George Young

The residuary bodies and other successor authorities in local government will have the same gratuity powers as are available to local authorities in general.

Mr. Lofthouse

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the value as a percentage of the total budget of the metropolitan county councils of those services which will pass wholly to the metropolitan district councils in the event that Cmnd. 9063 is implemented.

Mr. Waldegrave

From the available information in 1984–85 budget returns, services other than police, fire and revenue support for passenger transport (services which it is proposed should become the responsibility of district council joint boards) account for 36'per cent. of the metropolitan county councils' net current expenditure.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he now proposes to make, in the event of the Greater London council being abolished, for the provision of scientific services on a metropolitan scale.

Sir George Young

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 November by my hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Mr. Hayes) at columns378 and 379.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council, regulation L 11 of the Local Government Superannuation Regulations 1974–84 will apply to staff whose pay is reduced as a result of the abolition of the council.

Sir George Young

No. Employees in this category will, if they wish, be entitled to claim separate benefits in respect of their two employments. In addition the Bill makes provision for some compensation for detriment suffered by staff moving to new jobs in local government service at lower pay.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council, he intends to seek to maintain the Greater London council's equal opportunities policy and training initiatives, including basic skills and second chance schemes.

Sir George Young

These are matters for the successor authorities.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council, it is the intention of the Government to apportion the Greater London council superannuation fund in respect of Greater London council staff transferred to the residuary body and the new successor bodies, including the Inner London education authority, the. Fire Board and the London Planning Commission.

Sir George Young

The Greater London council's superannuation fund will be transferred to the London residuary body; and non-teaching staff of the new ILEA and non-uniformed staff of the new fire authority will continue to participate in that fund. The London Planning Commission will not employ staff of its own.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council, the successor bodies will each be given local authority status; and what arrangements, including what funds, will be made for superannuation payments.

Sir George Young

Most successor bodies will be existing local authorities. The new ILEA and the London Fire and Civil Defence Authority will have the powers of local authorities for most purposes. Superannuation arrangements are set out in clauses 57 and 58 of the Local Government Bill.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff he anticipates will be shed in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council.

Sir George Young

We estimate that there will be a net reduction of some 7,000 posts as a result of abolition of the GLC and MCCs, after taking account of increases outside local government. Roughly half will occur in London; the number of GLC staff left without jobs in the new structure need not be as great as this.