§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER (LORD PONSONBY OF SHULBREDE)My Lords, perhaps I should explain that this is a small Bill to provide new accommodation for the Imperial War Museum on the site of Bethlem Hospital. The buildings and gardens were, by the generosity of Lord Rothermere, handed over as an open space to the London County Council. It is proposed now that the central part of the building, which will preserve the dome and the entrance which have architectural merits, shall be converted into a War Museum, and the rest will be in the hands of the County Council as an open space and garden. The present accommodation for the Imperial War Museum in South Kensington is very inadequate, and the exhibits are very much crowded. In any case in the course of time it would be necessary to find new accommodation for them. This gets over the difficulty, and provides a very suitable site. The County Council and Lord Rothermere have considerably helped in coming to this agreement. I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a.