§ Mr. Anthony CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will establish a staff commission to advise on the staffing issues arising from the reorganisation of local government in the shire counties in England.
§ Mr. HowardI have decided to use my powers under section 23 of the Local Government Act 1991 to set up a small staff commission to advise me on the steps necessary to safeguard the interests of staff affected by local government reorganisation in England. I intend to ask the staff commission to advise me in particular on arrangements for staff transfers; on any particular redundancy and compensation arrangements that may be necessary; and on whether there should be arrangements to give staff whose posts are lost in reorganisation prior consideration for jobs in new authorities. I intend that the staff commission should be set up next year, in time to deal with questions relating to the outcome of the first tranche of the local government commission's reviews.