§ Mr. John Fraserasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether it is the policy of his Department to maintain a Londonwide renovation team responsible for the renovation of former Greater London council properties which have been transferred to the London boroughs for which properties the Greater London council maintains a residual responsibility.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he has ascertained how many London boroughs would wish, in the event of the Greater London council being abolished, to see Greater London council staff engaged on the programme to renovate former Greater London council housing transferred to the London residuary body and in what circumstances those boroughs would wish to see the staff retained in that body;
(2) in what circumstances Greater London council staff engaged on the programme to renovate former Greater London council housing transferred to the London boroughs would pass to the London residuary body, in the event of the Greater London council being abolished;
(3) what range of staff he envisages will pass to the London residuary body to support programmes related to renovation of former Greater London council housing transferred to the London boroughs, in the event of the Greater London council being abolished.
§ Sir George YoungMy noble Friend will be moving an amendment in another place to the Local Government Bill which will provide for the London residuary body to take a positive role in seeking the views of the boroughs on whether the residuary body should take on specialist teams temporarily while long term arrangements are being finalised. This would apply to renovations teams.