§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) why he has not yet given his consent to a grant to the Asha women's group, for which the Greater London council applied on 23 October 1985;
(2) why he has not yet given his consent to a grant to the All London teachers against racism and fascism for which the Greater London council applied on 17 May 1985;
(3) why he has not yet given his consent to a grant to the London advice and counselling service for youth for which the Greater London council applied on 17 September 1985;
(4) why he has not yet given his consent to a grant to the North Lewisham law centre welfare rights unit for which the Greater London council applied on 30 October 1985;
(5) why he has not yet given his consent to a grant to the West London Fair Housing Group for which the Greater London council applied on 4 December 1985;
(6) why he has not yet given his consent to a grant to the Barking and Dagenham Link employment centre for which the Greater London council applied on 28 October 1985;
(7) why he has not yet given his consent to a grant to the London interpreting project for which the Greater London council applied on 31 October 1985.
§ Mr. TraceyThese cases are applications for my right hon. Friend's consent under section 7 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 and are receiving careful consideration.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he has not yet given his consent to a grant to the Chinese information and advice centre for which the Greater London council applied on 26 November 1985.
§ Mr. TraceyMy right hon. Friend gave consent to this grant on 16 January.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 13 January, Official Report, column 469, if he will give details of his response of 10 December to the London Co-ordinating Committee regarding section 137 limits.
§ Mr. TraceyMy Department's reply to the London Co-ordinating Committee indicated that we have no present plans to amend local authorities' section 137 limits, pending the report of the Widdicombe inquiry, without firm evidence of immediate difficulties in meeting commitments and funding worthwhile projects; and that we are keeping the position under review.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Greater London council clinical waste incinerator at Edmonton will continue to be used for the disposal of clinical waste after abolition of the Greater London council; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe future of the facilities for the disposal of clinical waste at the Edmonton incinerator is a matter for the North London waste authority. I understand that this is presently under consideration by that authority.
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§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has received a copy of the third report of the review group on the disposal of clinical wastes in the London area; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe Department was sent a copy of this Report on 23 December 1985.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) why he has not yet given his consent to a loan to Spitalfields Housing Co-operative for which the Greater London council applied on 19 August 1985;
(2) why he has not yet given his consent to landscape works in parks for which the Greater London council applied on 15 July 1985;
(3) why he has not yet given his consent to the rebuilding of a London Fire Brigade training centre for which the Greater London council applied on 31 July 1985;
(4) why he has not yet given his consent to Dial-a-ride leasing computers for which the Greater London council applied on 31 July 1985.
§ Mr. TraceyFurther consideration will be given to these applications when the council responds to the Department's request for further information.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) why he has not yet given his consent to a grant to the Polytechnic of Central London for a study on decentralisation of services in London boroughs for which the Greater London council applied on 25 October 1985;
(2) why he has not yet given his consent to a grant to the Royal Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults for which the Greater London council applied on 31 October 1985;
(3) why he has not yet given his consent to Palmers Green station car park for which the Greater London council applied on 22 November 1985;
(4) why he has not yet given his consent to Hounslow West station car park for which the Greater London council applied on 11 December 1985.
§ Mr. TraceyEach application needs to be considered carefully on its merits. Decisions will be reached as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he has not yet given his consent to an anti-speeding campaign for which the Greater London council applied on 14 November 1985.
§ Mr. TraceyConsent was given on 15 January 1986.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he has not yet given his consent to the formulation of the Roundhouse as a limited company for which the Greater London council applied on 15 July 1985.
§ Mr. TraceyNo application has been received from the GLC for consent to the formulation of the Roundhouse as a limited company.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he has not yet given his consent to the Battlebridge basin refurbishment scheme for which the Greater London council applied on 20 August 1985.
§ Mr. TraceyConsent was given on 26 November 1985.
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§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 13 January, Official Report, column 469, if there have been any variations in the destination of Greater London council functions and responsibilities since they were set out in his Department's guidance note of 16 July 1985; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TraceyI understand that the boroughs have agreed that the Inner London Education Authority will take on responsibility for the supplies department. On waste disposal, I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, South (Mr. Sumberg) at column255–7. Otherwise, the destinations of functions remain as in annex A to the guidance note.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to update the estimates of savings and costs regarding Greater London council and metropolitan county council abolition given by Ministers during the passage of the Local Government Act 1985 and included in the explanatory and financial memorandum to that Act; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TraceyNo.