§ 39. Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total of grants made by the Greater London council in 1985–86 to date which have required his prior approval.
§ Mr. TraceyTo date we have received 314 applications from the GLC for consent to grants to various bodies. Of these, 293 required consent under section 7 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 as involving section 137 expenditure; 207, totaling £19,759,391, have received section 7 consent; 36, totalling £9,198,041, have been refused.
Of the total of 314 applications, 21 required consent under section 92 of the Local Government Act 1985 as imposing a liability on successor authorities. All of these, totalling £968,246, have been refused.
In addition, 88 applications, totalling £19,213,099, have been made in respect of proposals for financial assistance to various London boroughs. Consent has been given to 59 of these, totalling £10,549,470; 5, totaling £77,345, have been refused. My right hon. Friend has also decided that he would not wish to direct the London Residuary Body to recover 106 payments, totalling £52,971,836, which were made by the GLC to the London boroughs in 1985–86 without consent; the GLC has been asked to supply more information about a further 10 payments, totalling £178,691, made in 1985–86 without consent.