To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements are to be made to sponsor and regulate the commemorative blue plaques in London of eminent literary and artistic persons.

The present arrangements are set out in paragraph 4 of schedule 2 to the Local Government Act 1985. This provides that

"The [Historic Buildings and Monuments] Commission may in Greater London, and a London borough council may in its borough—

(a) provide; and

(b) on any conspicuous part of a house, building or place, with the consent of its owner, erect,

a commemorative plaque, tablet or sign indicating an event or matter of public interest in connection with the house, building or place or its site, and may in that area, with the like consent, maintain any such plaque, tablet or sign erected by it or by any other person or body, whether before or after the passing of this Act·"

There are no plans to change this provision.The commission has been operating a commemorative plaques scheme since April 1986 and has erected 35 plaques on London buildings. The commission also maintains a variety of commemorative plaques erected during the last hundred years by the Royal Society of Arts, London county council and the Greater London council. Information is not available on schemes operated by London boroughs.The commission is always prepared to consider fresh suggestions for commemorative plaques.