§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what restriction or embargo he has imposed on the preparatory work for court buildings for the newly formed Petty Sessional Division of Newham; what would be the cost of such preparatory work; and what representations he has received on this question.
§ Mr. JohnSevere restrictions on capital allocations for magistrates' courts buildings have meant that since last646W March forward planning could be allowed only on a small group of top priority schemes which would have first call on any additional allocations that might become available in future years. The Newham scheme could not be included in this group. I explained on 16th February to a deputation from the Greater London Council and the Outer London Magistrates' Courts Committees that no indication could yet be given of when capital resources might permit the resumption of planning on a wider front, but that I would consider carefully what had been said about the needs of a number of outer London boroughs, including Newham. I was told that Greater London Council planning costs to tender stage on the Newham project might be of the order of £92,000.