HC Deb 07 March 1984 vol 55 cc602-3W
33. Mr. Madden

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received alleging that his proposals to abolish metropolitan county councils will lead to increased costs.

Mr. Waldegrave

The detailed analysis of the responses is not yet complete. The authorities to be abolished have alleged that major increases in costs would be inevitable; the independent study by Coopers and Lybrand did not support their exaggerated claims.

34. Mr. Wainwright

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received a copy of the most recent Coopers and Lybrand report on the cost of abolishing the metropolitan county councils; and if he will now arrange a detailed inquiry into the likely cost of abolishing these councils.

38. Mr. Jim Callaghan

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received a final copy of the Coopers and Lybrand report on the costs of abolishing the metropolitan county councils.

64. Mr. Waller

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received a copy of the most recent Coopers and Lybrand report on the costs involved in the abolition of the metropolitan county councils; and if he will make a statement.

65. Mr. Fatchett

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received a copy of the Coopers and Lybrand report on the costs involved in the abolition of the metropolitan county councils; and whether he will make a statement on the expected transitional costs of the proposals contained in Cmnd. 9063.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

I have seen the report. It confirms my view that a detailed assessment of the costs and savings of abolition cannot sensibly be made until the districts have decided on the future handling of the services they will take over.

45. Mr. Tom Cox

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has made any assessment of the effect on local authority pension funds of the proposed abolition of the metropolitan county councils and the Greater London council.

Mr. Waldegrave

This is a matter to be considered in the light of consultations with the authorities concerned on the proposals in chapter 5 of our White Paper—Cmnd. 9063. We have already given an assurance that the existing rights of pensioners will be fully safeguarded.

48. Mr. McGuire

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the possible staff redundancy costs if the metropolitan councils are to be abolished.

Mr. Waldegrave

It is not possible to estimate redundancy costs at this stage. These will depend on decisions to be taken by the successor authorities about their staff needs and on detailed discussions with those concerned, including staff interests, on the proposals set out in chapter 4 of our White Paper—Cmnd. 9063.

62. Mr. Clay

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the financial and legal details of staff redundancies and early retirement that would arise from the abolition of the metropolitan councils.

Mr. Waldegrave

These are matters to be settled in the light of detailed discussions on the proposals in chapter 4 of our White Paper—Cmnd. 9063.

72. Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his response to the submission from the Greater London council on the Government's proposals as set out in "Streamlining the Cities", Cmnd. 9063.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

I am considering the submission.

Sir David Price

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the recent Coopers and Lybrand report on the financial implications of abolishing the metropolitan county councils, if he will simplify the proposals for their abolition in Cmnd. 9063 by converting the metropolitan districts into all-purpose single tier directly elected authorities.

Mr. Waldegrave

Our intention is that the district councils should take over as many as possible of the functions of the metropolitan county councils, and that the use of statutory joint arrangements should be kept to a minimum. We are considering the representations that we have received on all aspects of our proposals.