§ Mr. Gordon BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list(a) the metropolitan authorities that have been abolished, (b) the non-departmental public bodies set up to take over the functions of the metropolitan authorities and (c) the number of people directly employed by each of these bodies.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe authorities which were abolished as a consequence of the Local Government Act 1985 were the metropolitan county councils of Greater Manchester, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, West Midlands and West Yorkshire.
The non-departmental public bodies established to take over those functions of the abolished authorities which were not directly transferred at abolition to successor authorities were:
- Greater Manchester Residuary Body
- Merseyside Residuary Body
- South Yorkshire Residuary Body
- Tyne and Wear Residuary Body
- West Midlands Residuary Body
- West Yorkshire Residuary Body
- Greater Manchester Museum of Science and Industry
- National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside
Details of the number of staff directly employed by each of the residuary bodies is provided in their annual reports and accounts for 1987–88, copies of which were laid before Parliament on 31 October 1988. The number of staff employed by the Greater Manchester museum of science and industry, and the National museums and galleries on Merseyside is detailed in the publication "Public Bodies 1988", copies of which are held in the Library.