§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Transport what response has been received from the Greater London Council to his suggestion that he referred to on 23 April, 251W Official Report, column 561, that the council should prepare a plan, taking as a starting assumption the level of resources approved following the transport policies and programme last year.
§ Mr. David HowellThe GLC has told me that it is preparing its transport policies and programme which it proposes should be the subject of wide consultation. Whether that process results in the production of a realistic plan, taking as a starting assumption the level of resources I accepted for transport supplementary grant last year, or is used merely as a means of attempting to justify a return to its previous, totally unrealistic policies, remains to be seen.
£ million, outturn* prices 1979 1980 1981 1982 Central Government Cash Ceiling 497 576 (-11) 755 (+117) 804 Central Government payments 485 576 (+4) 749 (+110) n.a. Payments by PTEs 45 56 (+3) 61 (-1) n.a. Total payments 530 632 (+7) 810 (+109) n.a. Notes * The figures in brackets show the increase over the previous year, at constant 1981–82 prices using published GDP deflators. † The figure for the 1979–80 EFL is shown after the deduction of payments in respect of pensions; from 1980–81 this support has been provided direct to the pension funds and does not count against EFLs. ‡ Including £53 million available to meet the costs of withdrawing from the collected and delivered parcels service.