§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set up a unit within the Welsh Office to advise local authority joint committees on grant application for grants during the period of transition to the new unitary structure; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesNo. Advice will be issued to transition committees at the appropriate time where necessary.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements he will make to encourage efficient adoption of information technology by the new unitary authorities; and if he will make a statement.
847W
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesI shall be urging the new authorities to make the fullest possible use of existing IT facilities.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) when he will issue guidelines for the listing of assets of local authorities prior to their merger to the unitary councils and the residual authority;
(2) what representations he has received on the timing of the introduction of compulsory competitive tendering for unitary authorities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesI refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that I gave him on 14 December.