HC Deb 25 July 1986 vol 102 cc563-6W
Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the content and format of the first annual report and statement of accounts of the London residuary body has been agreed; and when the report will be presented to Parliament.

Mrs. Rumbold

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be issuing a direction to residuary bodies under section 78 of the Local Government Act 1985 as to the form of their statements of accounts. These statements in respect of the 1985–86 financial year will be laid before Parliament after they are audited.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what questions about borrowing in 1986–87 were raised by the London residuary body in its communication to his Department on 8 July; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what is the total amount of proposed borrowing by the London residuary body in 1986–87 for which his consent is needed.

Mrs. Rumbold

The letter raised questions about the availability of borrowing consent

  1. (a) to enable successor authorities to redeem debt owed to the London Residuary Body; and
  2. (b) to enable the London Residuary Body to finance certain capital payments.

The amount of borrowing required for the latter purpose in 1986–87 will depend on a number of factors, including decisions about the use of capital receipts accruing to the London residuary body, on which we are at present considering representations from interested parties.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much the London residuary body is seeking to claim from his Department in respect of outstanding Government grants to the Greater London council;

(2) what is the total amount of Government grants to the Greater London council still outstanding.

Mrs. Rumbold

I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member on 16 July at Column544.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by borough the amount each has received from the London residuary body since 1 April.

Mrs. Rumbold

I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member on 11 July at column 310. My Department does not have information about any amounts which have been distributed at any particular point in time.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will call for a report from the chairman of the London residuary body on the amount of money spent on furniture, crockery expenses and ex-gratia payments to staff by the London residuary body since 1 April; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

I see no need for such a report.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, if he will make a statement about the transfer of Greater London council seaside and country homes from the London residuary body to the Anchor housing association.

Sir George Young

Negotiations for the transfer are currently taking place. I am being kept informed of progress.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what directions, advice or guidance he has given to the London residuary body since 1 April.

Mrs. Rumbold

Guidance to all residuary bodies on financial rights and liabilities was issued by the Department on 11 July. This will be consolidated into the wider guidance on property, rights and liabilities to be issued shortly.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment at what date the level of remuneration payable to chairmen and members of the residuary bodies will be considered.

Mrs. Rumbold

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Surbiton (Mr. Tracey) on 5 June 1986 at column497. The remuneration of the members of public boards has been increased from 1 July 1986 consequential on the decisions reached on the report of the Top Salaries Review Body.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether a response has now been sent by his Department to the London residuary body concerning its request for consents to borrowing dated 8 July; and whether the requests of the London residuary body have been approved by his Department.

Mrs. Rumbold

No.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he can give a date by which full payment may be expected to the London residuary body of claims for Government grants from the Greater London council; and if he will list the Departments with which such claims are outstanding.

Mrs. Rumbold

I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member on 16 July at column 544.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the reasons discussed with the chairman of the London residuary body for the delay in announcing the release of £18 million from the Greater London council balances in April.

Mrs. Rumbold

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 23 July at columns 338–39.

Mr. Sedgemore

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will request the London residuary body to bring forward proposals to make available ex-Greater London council light industrial properties which it controls to the London borough of Hackney and to other inner city boroughs which have a demand for rented industrial units;

(2) if he has any plans to bring forward a draft property transfer order for the London residuary body to hand over ex-Greater London council light industrial properties to the London borough of Hackney and to other inner city boroughs.

Mrs. Rumbold

No. The disposal of these properties is a matter for which the London residuary body is responsible.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether there have been any discussions between his Department and officials of the London residuary body concerning the making of special payments to staff; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

This is one of the matters about which the London residuary body informed the Department of its decisions.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether there have been any discussions between his Department and the London residuary body concerning the future of computer services in London currently provided by the London residuary body; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

This is one of the matters about which the London residuary body has kept the Department informed.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a direction to prevent the London residuary body from seeking to renegotiate prices for sales of property authorised by the Greater London council to two housing co-operatives at 3–12 Clark street and 20–26 Ford square, Tower Hamlets and 85–88 Brent Terrace, Barnet; and if he will make a statement.

Sir George Young

No.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether there have been any discussions between his Department and the London residuary body regarding the organisations and authorities to be consulted on the future of Hampstead heath; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

This is one of the matters about which the London residuary body has informed the Department of its decisions.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have taken place between his Department and the London residuary body regarding the body's budget forecast for the income during the period 1 April and 31 May; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

There are frequent discussions between this Department and the London residuary body about financial matters.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether there have been any discussions between his Department and officials of the London residuary body concerning any charge to be made for the use of the County Hall by the Inner London education authority, and the financial terms for the Inner London education authority after 1 September 1987; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold

This in one of the matters about which the London residuary body has kept the Department informed.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the hon. Member for Newham, North-West can expect to receive replies to questions raised in an Adjournment debate on 23 May on the London residuary body, Official Report, column 648, to which a reply by correspondence was promised.

Mrs. Rumbold

My hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, wrote on 6 June. The London residuary body expects to reply soon to matters for which it is responsible.