On Sat, 18 Jul 2009 21:01:10 -0500, Free Lunch
wrote:

On Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:49:21 -0700 (PDT), John B
wrote in misc.transport.urban-transit:

On Jul 18, 7:57Â*pm, Arthur Figgis wrote:
Lots of places have signs but no distinct government. I think I've seen
"England" on signs, and even "London" is rather complex concept to pin
down as a specific "thing".

England exists, legally, though - e.g. the Department of [English]
Health.

Not so simple, the DH deals with English health matters which are
otherwise devolved to the other countries but it also deals with other
matters (e.g. European Health Insurance Card) as a United Kingdom
entity.

London is easy: the Corporation's area is the City of London, the GLA
area is Greater London, and there isn't anything else.

There is. The Inns of Court are also local authorities for many
purposes, e.g. :-
" “district�, in relation to a local authority in Greater London,
means a London borough, the City of London, the Inner Temple or the
Middle Temple, as the case may be; " [s1(1) Public Health Act 1936]

There are also areas outwith the capital (e.g. Hampstead Heath, Queens
Park) which are its responsibility, not that of the containing local
authority; this extends to having their own constabulary patrolling
Hampstead Heath.

Does the GLA cover all of urbanized area and adjacent suburbs?

Why should it ? The areas surrounding Greater London have their own
local authorities.