HC Deb 31 October 1984 vol 65 cc1036-40W
Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many civil servants, and of what grade, are employed in his Department administering applications for consent made under section 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984;

(2) how many civil servants, and of what grade, are employed in his Department administering applications for consent made under section 8 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984.

Sir George Young

I shall write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Chris Smith

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average length of time taken by his Department to process applications made by the Greater London council under section 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984.

Sir George Young

At least 61 per cent. of section 8 applications and approximately 72 per cent. of section 9 applications have been cleared within two weeks of receipt. Approximately 30 per cent. of all applications have been cleared within 24 hours of receipt.

Mr. Chris Smith

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for consent under section 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 have been submitted to him by the Greater London council.

Sir George Young

Thirty-two.

Mr. Chris Smith

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many freehold properties have been contained in the consents submitted to him by the Greater London council under section 8 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984.

Sir George Young

I shall write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the contracts submitted to him by the Greater London council under section 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 were in respect of cooking oil.

Sir George Young

One, with a value of £385,800.

Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the contracts submitted to him by the Greater London council under section 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 were in respect of oven-ready chickens; and what was the total value of such contracts.

Sir George Young

One, with a value of £204,000.

Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the contracts submitted to him by the Greater London council under section 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 were in respect of office equipment; and what was the total value of such contracts.

Sir George Young

Two, with a total value of £727,000.

Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many cases of consents submitted to him under section 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 by the Greater London council are currently awaiting decision by him; and how many requests for consents from other local authorities under section 9 are similarly awaiting decision.

Sir George Young

Four applications by the Greater London council and five by the metropolitan county councils.

Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current procedure operated by his Department when informing a local authority of his decision to approve or reject an application for consent made under sections 8 and 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984.

Sir George Young

Decisions are notified to authorities by telephone and subsequently confirmed in writing.

Mr. Corbyn

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the contracts submitted to him by the Greater London council under section 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 have been for food.

Sir George Young

Four.

Mr. Corbyn

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has requested from the Greater London council under the powers conferred on him by the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

On numerous occasions the Department has sought information in support of specific applications for consent under sections 7 to 9 of the Act.

Mr. Corbyn

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total value of contracts submitted to him by the Greater London council under section 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984.

Sir George Young

Currently, almost £21 million.

Mr. Corbyn

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for consent made to him by the Greater London council under section 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 have been refused.

Sir George Young

None.

Mr. Corbyn

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total value of contracts submitted to him by the Greater London council under section 8 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 that have been refused.

Sir George Young

None.

Mr. Chris Smith

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average length of time taken by his Department to process applications made by the Greater London council under section 8 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984.

Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average length of time taken by his Department to answer requests for consents made by the Greater London council under sections 8 and 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984.

Sir George Young

I refer the hon. Members of the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave) to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Wainwright) on Monday 29 October, at column 864.

Mr. Chris Smith

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a breakdown by London borough of those applications for his consent submitted by the Greater London council under section 8 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984.

Sir George Young

Comprehensive information is not available.

Mr. Corbyn

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many applications for consent made under section 8 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 by the Greater London council a decision has been deferred by his Department.

Sir George Young

In five cases we are awaiting further information from the council.

Mr. Corbyn

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many applications for consent made under section 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 by the Greater London council a decision has been deferred by his Department.

Sir George Young

In one case we are awaiting further information from the council.

Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the contracts submitted to him by the Greater London council under section 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 were in respect of general forms; and what was the total value of such contracts.

Sir George Young

Approval has been given for contracts for the supply of forms and related supplies up to a value of £640,000 to cover the 12 months from 1 August 1985.

Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what applications of new technology have been applied by his Department to deal with applications for consents made under sections 8 and 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984.

Sir George Young

My right hon. Friend has taken all necessary' steps to ensure that applications are dealt with expeditiously, including making use of the Department's computer facilities.

Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how he decides whether to grant or refuse the requests for consents made by the Greater London council under sections 8 and 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984.

Sir George Young

Each application is considered on its merits in the light of all relevant considerations.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average value of property submitted to him for consent by the Greater London council under section 8 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984.

Sir George Young

Comprehensive information is not available, nor is it needed for the proper consideration of applications.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average value of contracts submitted to him for consent under section 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 by the Greater London council.

Sir George Young

£508,666 for specific contracts.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) in how many cases of consents submitted to him by the Greater London council under section 8 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 the financial consideration has been less than £500;

(2) in how many cases of consents submitted to him by the Greater London council under section 8 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 no financial consideration was involved;

(3) how many leaseholds of under 10 years have been contained in the consent requests submitted to him by the Greater London council under section 8 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984;

(4) how many leasehold properties have been contained in the consent requests submitted to him by the Greater London council under section 8 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984.

Sir George Young

I shall write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for his consent have been made by each of the relevant local authorities under sections 8 and 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984.

Sir George Young

The information is as follows:

Numbers
Greater London council 1,650
Greater Manchester county council 378
Merseyside county council 71
South Yorkshire county council 153
West Yorkshire county council 85
West Midlands county council 396
Tyne and Wear county council 59

Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he anticipates issuing further general consents to local authorities relating to the powers granted to him by Parliament under sections 8 and 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984, arising from the experience of operating the powers to date.

Sir George Young

My Department will be writing today to the Greater London council and the metropolitan county councils enclosing copies of further general consents under sections 7, 8 and 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984. Copies of that letter will be sent to the relevant local authority associations, and to the constituent authorities in the areas concerned, and I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library.