HC Deb 15 February 1985 vol 73 cc309-11W
Dr. Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many applications for consents under section 8 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984, made to him by 31 January, involve a financial consideration of less than £500;

(2) how many applications for consents under section 8 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 made to him by 31 January 1985 involve no financial consideration.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

Financial considerations are not always a material factor in determining applications under section 8 of the Act and such details have not been supplied or sought in every case. Of cases where financial details were supplied, 1,120 involved a sale price or periodic rental of less than £500 and 703 of these involved no financial consideration.

Dr. Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many applications for consents under section 8 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984, made to him by 31 January 1985, are still outstanding;

(2) how many applications for consents under section 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 made to him by 31 January 1985 are still outstanding.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

Thirty-one applications under section 8 and 15 applications under section 9.

In at least 16 cases further information is awaited from the local authority.

Dr. Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the total cost of Government Departments so far incurred in processing applications by the six metropolitan county councils for consents under sections 8 and 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

Estimates across Government Departments are not collected centrally; and no distinctions made for these purposes between the sections of the Act.

The cost of Department of Environment staff, including associated accommodation and administrative costs, engaged on processing specific applications from the metropolitan county councils for consent under sections 7, 8 and 9 of the Act in the period up to 31 January 1985 was approximately £55,000.

Dr. Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average value of contracts for which consent has been sought under section 9 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 by 31 January 1985.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

The number of contracts involved is not necessarily a material consideration in determining applications for consent under section 9 of the Act. Such information is not always provided.

The average value of applications received by 31 January 1985 under section 9 is £1,192,300. This figure excludes any cases where financial details were not provided.

Dr. Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for consents under section 8 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984, made to him by 31 January 1985, were for (a) police vehicles, (b) fire service vehicles and appliances, (c) police clothing, (d) fire service clothing and (e) fuel; and what is the average contract value for each category.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

Details of applications received for consent under section 9 of the Act in respect of each category are as follows:

Category Number of applications received by 31 January 1985 Average application value (£)
(a) Police Vehicles 3 414,534

Category Number of applications received by 31 January 1985 Average application value (£)
(b) Fire Service vehicles and appliances (including those for airports use) 6 507,059
(c) Police clothing None
(d) Fire service clothing 2 157,328
(e) Fuel 4 2,566,365