Mr. Compton Carrasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what progress has been made in bringing the new London government system into operation.
§ Sir K. JosephThe London borough councils and the Greater London Council have appointed many of their chief and senior officers and have made substantial progress in planning their future organisation. Consultations have gone ahead between Government Departments, the London Government Staff Commission, local authorities and staff associations on a wide variety of consequential matters on which orders will be needed under the London Government Act, including the transfer of officers and property, the protection of staff interests, financial arrangements and the modification of local Acts.
A great many detailed arrangements have to be settled between the existing and the new authorities, and the orderly preparation for the final change-over next April makes it essential to settle, as soon as possible, the framework within which property transfers will take place. It is therefore my intention to make the main order on this aspect during the next few weeks.