HC Deb 18 November 1985 vol 87 cc60-1W
Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the London Docklands Development Corporation's 1985 corporate plan and operational plan will be published.

Sir George Young

The next edition of the corporate plan and the operational plan will be published in spring 1986, because the planning cycle has been changed to correspond with the start of the financial year.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what specific responsibilities the London Docklands Development Corporation has, as a planning authority, for the provision of health care facilities; and what arrangements exist with the local authorities and health authorities to enable these responsibilities to be carried out.

Sir George Young

The corporation has no statutory responsibilities for the provision of health care. It does, however, liaise with health authorities, local authorities and the family practitioner committee over the provision and implementation of their services within the UDA.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the London Docklands Development Corporation monitors house prices on privately owned dockland land.

Sir George Young

Not specifically, but LDDC keeps itself informed of the state of the private housing market in docklands.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what trade unions the London Docklands Development Corporation recognises, or has agreements with; and what time and facilities are made available for employees to conduct trade union business.

Sir George Young

The LDDC recognises and has a procedural agreement with NALGO. The LDDC provides reasonable paid time and facilities for appointed representatives to conduct their trade union activities.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many jobs were located in the London Docklands Development Corporation area for each of the last four years.

Sir George Young

[pursuant to his reply 15 November 1985, c. 312]: The following information is drawn from the Department of Employment Census of Employment 1981 and an independent LDDC survey in 1983:

Year Jobs
1981 30,270
1983 25,030

The results of the 1984 Department of Employment census and the LDDC survey 1985 will be available shortly.

The drop between 1981 and 1983 reflects the end of cargo handling within the LDDC area and the loss of employment from some key manufacturing firms. The figures for 1984 and 1985 will show the effect of the 5,900 new jobs (including an average of 1,500 construction workers at any one time) created within the UDA since the establishment of the LDDC.