HC Deb 04 March 1887 vol 311 c1273
MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it is the fact that only a few architects have been selected to prepare competitive plans for the proposed Imperial Institute Building, and that no competitors have been selected from Liverpool, Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, and other great representative towns; and, if so, who is responsible for this restriction upon such competition; and, whether any and what steps can be taken to secure an open competition for this Memorial Institute?

THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)

The question of the Imperial Institute is not in any way connected with Her Majesty's Government. We have no authority whatever to interfere with the course which the Committee may deem it fit to pursue. Therefore, I am quite unable to give the hon. Member any information on the subject.