§ Mr. David EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take against those local authorities whose direct labour organisations made significant financial losses in 1990–91.
§ Mr. Robin SquireStatutory notices under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988 were served on 36 local authorities between July and September of this year in respect of financial failure in 1990–91. My right hon. and learned Friend has now considered the responses of the 10 authorities on which notices were served on 16 July. He has today given directions under section 19B of the 1980 Act to Canterbury city council in respect of new construction work and to Halton borough council in respect of highways and sewerage work.
He has decided to take no further action in respect of financial failure in 1990–91 by Aylesbury Vale district 210W council (building maintenance), Blackburn borough council (other cleaning), Gillingham borough council (building maintenance), Hampshire county council (ground maintenance), Kerrier district council (building cleaning), South Bedfordshire district council (building maintenance) and Wear Valley district council (building maintenance). In all these cases, either the relevant work is now being carried out by private contractors or the authority has demonstrated to my right hon. and learned Friend's satisfaction that it has taken the necessary remedial measures to ensure that statutory requirement were met in 1991–92 or are likely to be met in the current financial year.
Similarly, he has decided to take no further action for the present against the London borough of Tower Hamlets (building maintenance) and Halton district council (building maintenance), pending receipt of further quarterly financial returns. He is still considering responses from the remaining 26 authorities on which notices were served during August and September.