To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will accept the London residuary body's recommendation to transfer ownership and management of Hampstead heath to the City of London.

We have considered very carefully the London residuary body's proposal. My right hon. Friend is disposed to accept the LRB's main recommendations but before proceeding with making an order to effect a transfer of Hampstead heath to the corporation of the City of London by April 1989, my Department has issued today a consultation letter inviting comments on what the contents of such an order should be. I have arranged for a copy of the consultation letter to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.