§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will state his Department's latest available information on the savings or costs arising from abolition of the Greater London council and each of the metropolitan county councils; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will state his Department's latest available information on the likely number of redundancies arising from abolition of the Greater London council and the metropolitan county councils; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. TraceyThe explanatory and financial memorandum to the Local Government Act 1985 provided estimates for these matters. My right hon. Friend has consistently made it clear that the outcome will depend on the decisions made by successor bodies.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the number of bodies, existing or proposed, due to inherit services currently administered by the Greater London council; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TraceyThe destination of GLC functions and responsibilities was set out in my Department's guidance note of 16 July 1985, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what cost will be involved in his Department's distribution of the leaflet describing the new structures for London and metropolitan local government; when it will be issued; and how many copies will be produced.
§ Mr. TraceyThe Government will be arranging for leaflets describing the new structure of local government in Greater London and the metropolitan areas, to be sent to households and business premises in March, as was done in 1974. It is not yet possible to say what the cost will be.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the decision taken by the London Co-ordinating Committee about the disability resource team, if he will make a statement on the future of the team after abolition of the Greater London council.
§ Mr. TraceyThis is primarily a matter for boroughs, but I understand that a decision has been taken to set up a London-wide disability unit after abolition of the GLC.