§ Mr. Maplesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he can now estimate the staff savings from the abolition of the Greater London council and the metropolitan county councils; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TraceyThe savings at present come about largely from the reduction in posts in the structure. The estimated number of claims for compensation for redundancy received by residuary bodies from ex-GLC or MCC employees is as follows:
Number London 3,000 Greater Manchester 640 Merseyside 358 South Yorkshire 521 Tyne and Wear 160 West Midlands 531 West Yorkshire 950 Total MCCs 3,160 Grand Total 6,160 These figures are broadly in line with the Government's estimate in November 1984 that about 7,000 posts could eventually be saved from abolition. It does not mean that 6,160 people have been made redundant against their will. The great majority have been ready to go, generally by taking early retirement, and in some areas posts have been available for all employees of the outgoing authorities who wanted them.
The Government's earlier estimate was based on savings arising from rationalisation of the structure of local government, leaving aside any savings from changes of policy by the successor authorities. Initial redundancies will not be the same as the number of posts saved because, for example, staff left the GLC and MCCs in anticipation of abolition and many of the jobs in residuary bodies will disappear in due course.
Residuary bodies are well advanced in making redundancy compensation payments to those eligible. It has been our aim all along that the number of posts should be reduced without making large numbers of people redundant against their will. I believe we have achieved both aims.