§ 15. Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in the light of changes to the Local Government Bill and the availability of further information since the financial and explanatory memorandum was published, he has revised or updated the estimates in that memorandum of the savings likely to be made following the abolition of the Greater London council and the metropolitan county councils.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerNo.
§ 20. Mr. Silvesterasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present position in the discussions between the Staff Commission and the unions in the Greater London council and the metropolitan county councils.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerThese are essentially matters for the Staff Commission itself. But the chairman has told me that some discussions of this kind have taken place. He has also emphasised that the commission remains very willing to meet representatives of any union whose members are effected by the abolition of the GLC and the metropolitan county councils.
§ 24. Mr. Evennettasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his most recent estimates of potential savings following the abolition of the Greater London council and the metropolitan county councils.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerThose set out in the explanatory and financial memorandum to the Local Government Bill, as amplified by the answer I gave on 30 November in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Surbiton (Mr. Tracy).