Jim Fitzpatrick (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry; Poplar & Canning Town, Labour)

Good morning, Lady Winterton. It is a pleasure to see you presiding. We all formally welcomed you and your co-Chairman to our proceedings on Tuesday, but it is a pleasure to see you, and I am sure that we will benefit from your assistance and guidance. That is especially true of the hon. Member for Surrey Heath, who made a pertinent point about needing guidance to Mr. O’Hara when our sitting opened on Tuesday.

The clause provides that any disposal of operational land by Transport for London should receive the Secretary of State’s written consent. That would include the disposal of any land by a subsidiary of TFL, including London Underground and London Buses.

Currently, section 163 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 requires the Secretary of State’s consent to any proposed disposal of land by TFL to be given by order. The clause will restore the previous position, which existed under the London Regional Transport Act 1984, in which the Secretary of State’s consent was given by written letter.

The clause will simplify and speed up the existing process, which is predominantly used by London Underground to dispose of redundant land that no longer serves any operational purpose. It will also reduce the administrative and regulatory burden on Parliament.

Andrew Pelling (Croydon Central, Conservative)

I also welcome you to the Chair, Lady Winterton. My speech will be very short.

Ann Winterton (Congleton, Conservative)

Actually, it is an intervention.

Andrew Pelling (Croydon Central, Conservative)

Thank you very much. Given that there will be quite an accumulation of land as a result of the Olympic bid, what approach are the Government taking to ensure flexibility over the disposal of land by the London Development Agency? Will legislation propose similar flexibility in that regard to make things easier for the Government in future?

Jim Fitzpatrick (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry; Poplar & Canning Town, Labour)

The hon. Gentleman asked a very relevant question, but if he does not mind, I suggest that we deal with it when we reach planning and other issues. The clause refers specifically to Transport for London, which is a different issue altogether.