§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why members of the Royal British Legion are being denied access to the war memorial in County hall, London SE1; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Paul BeresfordMy understanding is that the war memorial is located in the ambulatory that surrounds the former council chamber in County hall. The chamber and ambulatory are within the most historically sensitive area of County hall and will form part of the proposed conference centre which should be accessible to the public as development is completed over the coming year or two.
Replicas of the commemorative tablets to the London county council's dead of the two world wars have been installed in the London Fire Brigade headquarters on the Albert embankment, where, I understand, commemorative services to the fallen continue to be held.
However, as the riverside block of County hall is now privately owned by the Shirayama Corporation, I suggest that if any further information is required, it is in the best position to reassure the hon. Gentleman on the question of public access to the war memorial.