HC Deb 16 May 1985 vol 79 cc195-7W
Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the local authority associations and individual London boroughs will be consulted over the terms of an order conferring on himself nomination rights to ex-Greater London council housing in the event of the Greater London council being abolished.

Sir George Young

Yes.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to consult the local authority associations and individual London boroughs over the terms of any order transferring Greater London council seaside and country homes to a local district in the event of the Greater London council being abolished.

Sir George Young

Yes.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) where the office running the Greater London mobility scheme will be accommodated in the event of the Greater London council being abolished;

(2) how many national mobility office is funded; who employs its staff; and what plans he has for it in the event of the Greater London council being abolished;

(3) if he intends to place any restrictions on the national mobility office in the use of delegated powers to nominate tenants through the Greater London mobility scheme, in the event of the Greater London council being abolished.

Sir George Young

The national mobility office is funded almost wholly by the Exchequer and the staff are employed by the GLC on a contract basis. I expect to write shortly to those bodies represented on the national mobility steering committee inviting them to establish a working party to examine the possibilities of operating the Greater London mobility scheme through an enlarged NMO. The suggested terms of reference cover arrangements for funding, staffing and other related matters (including accommodation); and the preparation of a draft agreement between my right hon. Friend and the national mobility steering committee.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what arrangements he has made for the delegation of his nomination rights to Greater London council seaside and country homes in the event of the Greater London council being abolished;

(2) when he will announce what proportion of vacancies in Greater London council seaside and country homes will still be available to Londoners in the event of the Greater London Council being abolished;

(3) if he anticipates that the number of vacancies available to Londoners in Greater London council seaside and country homes will fall in the financial year 1986–87, when compared with previous years;

(4) if, in the event of the Greater London council being abolished, district councils in receipt of Greater London council seaside and country homes will be permitted to sell any such homes which are vacant and which are not to be made available to Londoners:

(5) when he expects to publish his paper outlining his proposals for the transfer of ownership of Greater London council seaside and country homes in the event of the Greater London council being abolished.

Sir George Young

The paper will be published shortly and will among other things cover nomination rights, distribution of lettings and sales.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list those bodies, associations, authorities and persons which have expressed support for his proposal to confer on the Secretary of State nomination rights to Greater London council seaside and country homes for retired Londoners, in the event of the Greater London council being abolished;

(2) if he will list those persons, bodies, authorities and associations which have expressed support for his proposal

to confer on the Secretary of State nomination rights to former Greater London council housing in the event of the Greater London council being abolished;

(3) if he will list the professional bodies, institutes, academic centres, voluntary housing groups and housing associations which support his proposals to abolish the Greater London council housing role.

Sir George Young

I must ask the hon. Member to seek the views of the bodies concerned direct.