HC Deb 22 May 1985 vol 79 cc440-1W
Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his current estimate of the number of staff needed by each of the residuary bodies due to take over in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council and the metropolitan county councils.

Mr. Waldegrave

Estimates would be premature at this stage.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what support arrangements he intends to set up in the regions for each of the residuary bodies in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council and the metropolitan county councils; and what is the estimated cost.

Mr. Waldegrave

After their formal establishment, the residuary bodies will be responsible for making their own arrangements for support services.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council and the metropolitan county councils, what is his most recent estimate of (a) the reduction in the number of jobs and (b) redundancies in each of the authorities concervned.

Mr. Waldegrave

I have nothing to add to the estimates given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Surbiton (Mr. Tracey) on 30 November 1984 at column611–14. As my right hon. Friend made clear, the numbers will depend on decisions by the successor authorities. If the authorities behave responsibly, we expect redundancies to be significantly fewer than reductions in posts. A Government amendment has just been made in another place to clause 57 of the Local Government Bill which is directed towards this objective.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if any approaches have been made by his Department to existing individual members of staff of the Greater London council and the metropolitan county councils in respect of future employment; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave

I am not aware of any such approaches.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff will be allocated by his Department to provide support for the proposed chairman and core members of the residuary bodies prior to their formal institution; and what is the estimated cost.

Mr. Waldegrave

This has yet to be decided, but the manpower and the associated costs will be met from within existing provisions.

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