HC Deb 06 June 1871 vol 206 cc1603-4
SIR JOHN PAKINGTON

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he intends to adopt the plan recommended by the Committee appointed by the Treasury "to report upon the open air spaces available in the vicinity of the Palace of Westminster for the Statues of Statesmen;" and, whether the Committees for erecting the intended statues of Lord Derby and Lord Palmerston are to understand that it is the final decision of Her Majesty's Government on this subject to carry out the plan referred to?

MR. GLADSTONE

Sir, I can at once inform the right hon. Baronet that there is no formed intention on the part of the Government to treat the Report made by the Committee appointed by the Treasury as a final document. The right hon. Baronet, together with other Gentlemen, made an application to me in reference to the mode in which the unoccupied spaces near the Houses of Parliament should be made available as sites for the statues of distinguished statesmen. Although I feel with the right hon. Baronet that it is desirable to proceed in a matter of this kind with expedition, still we must not forget that the subject is one in which those who are to come after us will have a considerable interest; and, considering how often we have had to go backwards and forwards in our opinions on such subjects, my desire is not that my own opinion should prevail, but that the opinion of Parliament and of the public should be directed to the question, so that we may have the best chance of arriving at a satisfactory conclusion with reference to it. While admitting that the opinion of the Committee is entitled to considerable weight, I shall feel myself bound before taking any steps upon it to hear what my right hon. Friend the First Commissioner of Works has to say with respect to the plan that the Committee have recommended. It is my intention to lay the Paper in question upon the Table of the House at as early a date as possible, in order that by inviting criticism upon it we may make sure of arriving at a conclusion with reference to the subject that may be permanently satisfactory.