§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate how many jobs will be lost through the abolition of the Greater London council and the metropolitan councils.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinAs the White Paper "Streamlining the Cities" (Cmnd. 9063) makes clear, I expect the proposed reorganisation of local government in Greater London and the metropolitan counties to lead to a substantial reduction in staff numbers. I cannot estimate the extent of the savings at present because it will depend on the nature of the arrangements which are made for each service.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the estimated cost of the abolition of the Greater London council and the metropolitan councils;
(2) what is the estimated cost of the abolition of the Merseyside metropolitan council.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinI have made no such estimates; but I am confident that there will be substantial savings.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with leaders of the metropolitan councils.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinThe meeting was useful, but did not lead me to change my view that the metropolitan county councils should be abolished.