§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department is kept advised of the total value of property disposed of by the London residuary body; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChopeThe London residuary body will be providing statistical returns of its receipts from the sale of fixed assets.
§ Mr Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice has been issued by his Department to the London residuary body concerning responsibility for rights and liabilities in respect of the Thames barrier.
§ Mr. ChopeMy Department issued general guidance on property, rights and liabilities to all successor bodies on 7 August. The hon. Member has a copy. Under article 20 of the Local Government Reorganisation (Property etc.) Order 1986 (SI 1986 No. 148) all property relating to the Thames barrier is vested in the Thames water authority. Responsibility for rights and liabilities in respect of the barrier is a matter for resolution betwen the authority and the London residuary body.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has of the extent of the London residuary body's industrial and commercial portfolio inherited from the Greater London council; and if he has been consulted about its disposal.
§ Mr. ChopeI understand that the London residuary body is currently reviewing options for the disposal of the extensive industrial and commercial portfolio which it inherited from the Greater London council. I do not have precise information about the extent of the portfolio.
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§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now give his current estimate of the number of ex-Greater London council staff who have still not received full payment of outstanding claims against the London residuary body.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much has been distributed by the London residuary body to the London boroughs since 1 April 1986;
(2) what information he has on the distribution of Greater London council balances to the London boroughs by the London residuary body since 1 April 1986.
§ Mr. ChopeThe London residuary body is distributing to boroughs the GLC's "top-end estimate" of £134 million, net of £45 million which is being used to pay staff compensation and other costs. The timing and method of this distribution is a matter for the London residuary body.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a direction to the London residuary body to ensure the speedy payment of detriment to former Greater London council staff.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has made a decision regarding the borrowing requirements of the London residuary body for 1986–87; and if he will give details of the representations he has received.
§ Mr. ChopeIt seems likely that the LRB will be able to finance its 1986–87 capital programme without incurring long-term debt liabilities. I have received no recent representations on the subject of LRB borrowing in 1986–87.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he expects to receive the final formal submission of the accounts of the London residuary body for 1985–86; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will issue a direction to the London residuary body to allow for inspection of its accounts by London ratepayers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChopeMy right hon. Friend has recently received the formal submission of all the residuary bodies' 1985–86 statements of accounts. These will be laid before Parliament shortly and, as provided for in section 79(6) of the Local Government Act 1985, published immediately thereafter by the residuary bodies. The draft 1985–86 accounts of the London residuary body were made available for public inspection from 4 to 24 September, inclusive, having been so advertised in theLondon Standard and Daily Telegraph on 19 August.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment which of the former Greater London council's services are still the subject of discussions between his Department and the London residuary body.
§ Mr. ChopeThe LRB keeps my Department informed from time to time on progress on such services as the research and intelligence unit, the scientific services, the computing service and the welfare benefits service.
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§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give an indicative figure of meetings between (a) officials and (b) Ministers from his Department with the London residuary body since 12 June.
§ Mr. ChopeSince 12 June last, there have been nine formal meetings between Ministers of this Department and members of the London residuary body and approximately 30 meetings between officials of the Department and those of the London residuary body.