§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he intends to announce his decision on arrangements for early retirement arising from the Local Government Act 1985 for staff of the Greater London council and metropolitan county councils;
(2) when he intends to announce his decision on the arrangements for compensation for financial detriment arising from the Local Government Act 1985 for staff of the Greater London council and metropolitan county councils.
§ Mr. TraceyShortly.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of responses received in support of the proposals in his Department's consultation paper arising from the Local Government Act 1985 regarding early retirement arrangements for staff of the Greater London council and metropolitan county councils.
§ Mr. TraceyMany responses were received. All were in favour of the principle of the scheme.
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§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the responses received to his Deprtment's proposals for future arrangements for the Greater London council's seaside and country homes.
§ Sir George YoungReplies have been received from 38 of the 44 non-metropolitan districts invited to respond, 6 London boroughs, the GLC and 3 local authority associations.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if, in the light of discussions with successor authorities since the enactment of the Local Government Act 1985, he is able to revise his estimate of the number of posts in local government service that will be lost as a result of the abolition of the Greater London council;
(2) if, in the light of discussions with successor authorities since the enactment of the Local Government Act 1985, he is able to revise his estimate of the number of posts that will be created in the public sector as a result of the abolition of the Greater London council.
§ Mr. TraceyI have nothing to add to the estimate given in the explanatory and financial memorandum to the Local Government Act 1985 that local authority manpower will be reduced by some 8,000 posts, but that there will be an estimated increase in other public sector bodies of about 900 posts.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he proposes to give successor authorities concerning redundancies arising from the abolition of the Greater London council.
§ Mr. TraceyMy right hon. Friend has at present no plans to add to the advice already sent out in "Abolition of the GLC and MCCs: arrangements for staffing the new structure"—November 1984; and "Treatment of GLC/MCC Employees"—LGA(L) (DOE)9; LGA(MC) (DOE)10. I have placed copies of both in the Library.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of circular No. 9 issued by the London and Metropolitan Government Staff Commission on 11 October, his Department will be advising successor authorities to consider the possibilities of designation for staff of the Greater London council currently working in functions to be transferred after the abolition of the Greater London council.
§ Mr. TraceyMy Department has already issued a consultation paper inviting such proposals. I am placing a copy in the Library.