§ Mr. Lesterasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place a copy in the Library of the detailed basis for his estimate of savings of 9,000 jobs to be achieved by abolishing the metropolitan county councils and their replacement by various arrangements set out in Cmnd. 9063 and accompanying consulation papers.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe figure of 9,000 is only a broad estimate, and it would be premature to go further until the districts have taken detailed decisions on how they will staff the services to be transferred to them.
§ Mr. Lesterasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he expects to have established and to have published a firm estimate of the financial costs and benefits of the abolition of the metropolitan county councils and of the establishment of the joint boards, joint committees and joint working arrangements set out in Cmnd. 9063 and its accompanying consultation papers before he publishes any proposed legislation based on that White Paper.
§ Mr. WaldegraveFirm estimates of costs and benefits resulting from the abolition of the metropolitan county councils will depend on decisions taken by successor bodies. Preliminary estimates from some districts indicate that substantial savings could be achieved in the services transferred to them.
§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement explaining what are the four difficulties referred to in the White Paper Cmnd. 9063, "Planning Consultation Paper", paragraph 2, in relation to the complete transfer of structure planning functions to metropolitan districts.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneParagraph 2 of the consultation paper on the re-allocation of planning functions of the GLC and the metropolitan county councils refers to "few" difficulties in relation to the preparation and implementation of local plans and development control functions for which London boroughs and metropolitan districts are already mainly responsible. The issues for consideration are dealt with in more detail in paragraphs 19 to 23 of the same paper.
§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consult the regional aggregate working parties for their views on the effects upon the supply of aggregate materials of the proposed abolition of the metropolitan county councils.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneBodies represented on the regional aggregate working parties will have seen the White Paper "Streamlining the Cities" (Cmnd. 9063) and the planning consultation paper. They are able to discuss it in working party meetings if they so wish and to let us have their comments by 31 January. Any representations received from the working parties will be given careful consideration.
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§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received from the private sector of the waste disposal industry in favour of the proposals to abolish the metropolitan county councils and to seek to establish the provision of waste disposal services on a metropolitan district basis.
§ Mr. WaldegraveNone, as yet. However, the White Paper "Streamlining the Cities" and the consultation document on our proposals for waste disposal invited comments by 31 January.
§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he envisages that metropolitan district councils will need to establish a joint structure plan body to consider and establish policies on planning issues of wider significance than individual district areas, in the event of the abolition of the metropolitan county councils.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneOur proposals for structure planning in the metropolitan county areas after abolition are set out in the consultation paper "The Re-allocation of Planning Functions in the Greater London Council and Metropolitan County Council Areas", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what specific arrangements he intends to establish in order to consider the local needs and priorities when he determines the rate precept level of the proposed joint boards for public transport, fire and police, in the event of the abolition of the metropolitan county councils.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe arrangements needed for each joint board will be considered in the light of the existing mechanisms for determining local needs and priorities for these services and of the responses to the proposals in Cmnd. 9063.
Mr. John M. Taylorasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the chief executive of the metropolitan district councils will receive additional remuneration for any extra duties and responsibilities which they may undertake as a result of functions being transferred from the existing metropolitan county councils in the event of those county councils being abolished in line with the proposals in the White Paper, Cmnd. 9063, and its accompanying documents.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThis will be a matter for the metropolitan district councils concerned to consider in the light of nationally negotiated agreements on chief executives' remuneration.