§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment which functions of the London Residuary Body will be funded during its first year of operation by means of levies on successor bodies and which by means of direct charging.
§ Mr. TraceyThe main costs to be met by charges will be debt charges, except those in respect of certain mortgages, directly attributable superannuation costs and, subject to decisions by the body in consultation with successor authorities, the costs of any professional and technical services provided by the body. The levy on the boroughs will meet any costs not met from charges.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what Greater London council computers and fixed equipment have been identified for transfer to the London Residuary Body.
§ Mr. TraceyThe Government's proposals for the transfer of all tangible property at abolition were set out in property memorandum No. 2, issued on 3 September 1985.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment who are currently members of the London Residuary Body; and what remuneration or expenses will be received by each in the current financial year.
§ Mr. TraceySir Godfrey Taylor, Mr. Alan Blakemore CBE, Mr. Jack Esling, Mr. Wallace Mackenzie OBE and Mr. Jack Wolkind CBE were appointed to the London Residuary Body on 12 August 1985, and Councillor Peter Bowness was appointed on 1 October 1985. Remuneration is being paid at the following rates — Sir Godfrey Taylor, £50,000 per annum, Mr. Esling, £18,927 per annum, Mr. Blakemore, Mr. Mackenzie and Mr. Wolkind, £12,000 per annum, and Councillor Bowness £6,000 per annum.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment for which categories of contracts the London Residuary Body will assume responsibility on the abolition of the Greater London council.
§ Mr. TraceyAll outstanding contractual rights and liabilities of the GLC will be assumed by the London Residuary Body unless transferred to successor authorities by order under section 100 of the Local Government Act 1985.
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§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what will be the role of the London Residuary Body in respect of the Greater London mobility scheme;
(2) what arrangements will be made for the body running the Greater London mobility scheme to monitor and amend the way in which the scheme's computer records are kept in order to ensure that the equal opportunities provisions are maintained and implemented effectively;
(3) what arrangements are being made to safeguard the control systems of the Greater London mobility scheme whilst its operation is managed by the London Residuary Body.
§ Sir George YoungSubject to negotiations with the local authority associations, the London Residuary Body may have a temporary role as employers of staff and providers of accommodation and equipment, until permanent arrangements are made. Records and control systems will be the responsibility of the body running the scheme.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the total costs of establishing the London Residuary Body's offices in central London.
§ Mr. TraceyThe costs incurred before the London Residuary Body's appointed day are expected to amount to some £6,000. Costs incurred after that date are a matter for the residuary body.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment which body will be responsible for the payment of housing benefit to Thamesmead residents while Thamesmead is in the ownership of the London Residuary Body.
§ Sir George YoungBexley and Greenwich councils, the local authorities within whose boundaries Thamesmead falls.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how the London Residuary Body will determine rent levels for the housing stock at Thamesmead currently owned by the Greater London council.
§ Sir George YoungWe expect the London Residuary Body to have only temporary responsibility for Thamesmead during which time it will levy current rent levels.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the total number of permanent staff directly employed by the London Residuary Body as at 30 September;
(2) what information he has as to how many of the jobs in the London Residuary Body are held by residents of Greater London;
(3) when consultations with the London boroughs will take place concerning the London Residuary Body review of the professional and technical services provided by the Greater London council, as required by paragraph 8(2)(b) of schedule 13 to the Local Government Act 1985;
(4) when the London Residuary Body will commence the review of professional and technical services provided by the Greater London council under paragraph 8(2)(a) of schedule 13 to the Local Government Act 1985;
100W(5) what information he has as to how many people from black or other ethnic minority communities are employed by the London Residuary Body and at what grades;
(6) how many women are employed by the London Residuary Body, and at what grades;
(7) in relation to the London Residuary Body's own employment practices, whether personnel are specifically employed to shortlist and appoint staff;
(8) on what basis rents currently set by the Greater London council will be reviewed and varied by the London Residuary Body;
(9) in relation to the London Residuary Body's employment practices, what arrangements there are for advertising posts in the London Residuary Body; and, in particular, in which black and ethnic minority newspapers advertisements are being placed;
(10) whether the London Residuary Body's own employment practices, make provision for maternity and paternity leave;
(11) in relation to the London Residuary Body's own employment practices whether there are clauses in contracts of employment specifying that racial and sexual harassment at work is a disciplinary issue;
(12) whether the post of chief executive in the London Residuary Body was advertised nationally;
(13) what meetings have taken place between the London Residuary Body and the co-ordinating committee, committees of London boroughs and other successor bodies;
(14) what motor vehicles are at the disposal of the London Residuary Body; and what is the total estimated cost in the current financial year;
(15) how many people with disabilities are employed by the London Residuary Body and at what grades;
(16) what is the London Residuary Body's budget for the current financial year with a detailed breakdown of expenditure under different headings;
(17) into what sectional and divisional structure the staff of the London Residuary Body are organised;
(18) if he will list the consultants used by the London Residuary Body to date for staff recruitment and the consultancy fees incurred;
(19) what is the total number of temporary staff directly employed by the London Residuary Body as at 30 September;
(20) as at 30 September, how many Greater London council and former Greater London council employees are working for the London Residuary Body (a) on a full-time basis, (b) under a dual appointment arrangement, (c) under an agency agreement and (d) on a shared time basis between the Greater London council and the London Residuary Body;
(21) how much has been spent by the London Residuary Body on hospitality, public relations and personal expenses since its establishment;
(22) when he anticipates that the London Residuary Body will give a provisional estimate of its budget and levy;
(23) whether there are any proposals to relocate the London Residuary Body after 31 March 1986;
(24) if the London Residuary Body keeps a register which indicates the number of homosexual men and women employed;
101W(25) how many applications were received for the secretarial posts advertised recently for the London Residuary Body.
§ Mr. TraceyThese are all matters for the London Residuary Body.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how long he expects responsibility for Thamesmead to rest with the London Residuary Body.
§ Sir George YoungFor a short period only.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to make an order to effect the transfer of property at Thamesmead currently owned by the Greater London council to the London Residuary Body.
§ Sir George YoungBy virtue of section 62 of the Local Government Act 1985 all GLC properties will pass at abolition to the London Residuary Body unless they have been transferred elsewhere by order.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to issue a transfer order to effect the transfer of staff currently employed by the Greater London council in connection with Thamesmead to the employ of the London Residuary Body.
§ Sir George YoungWe do not intend to decide the exact means for the transfer of the GLC's Thamesmead staff until the long-term arrangements for the area have been finalised.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if it remains his policy to seek the consent of individual mortgagors under the Greater London council's mortgage account before each loan is transferred from the London Residuary Body to any alternative body.
§ Sir George YoungYes, so far as voluntary transfers during the life of the residuary body are concerned. Arrangements for the disposal of any assets remaining when the residuary body is wound up are still under consideration.