HC Deb 18 June 1863 vol 171 cc1049-50
MR. CAVENDISH BENTINCK

said, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether Captain Fowke has made any Estimate of the cost of repairing the Exhibition Building and of completing the same, in conformity with his published design, and whether there is any objection to lay such Estimate upon the table or to state its amount?

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

said, in reply, that those plans referred to were voluntarily made by Captain Fowke and for his own information. The estimate of the cost made by that gentleman was not in the possession of the Government. But if the hon. Gentleman wished to move for the production of those plans and their estimated cost, they would, no doubt, be forthcoming.

SIR HENRY WILLOUGHBY

said, he wished to know whether it is intended to bring forward the Vote for the purchase of the Exhibition Building on Thursday next.

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

Yes. I do not apprehend that there is any other business that will stand in the way.

LORD JOHN MANNERS

said, he would beg to remind the right hon. Gentleman the First Commissioner of Works that he had intimated his intention of making a short statement on the subject of the disposal of Burlington House. Perhaps the House would consider it convenient if the right hon. Gentleman would make that statement before the Vote was proposed on Thursday.

MR. COWPER

said, he was not aware that he had ever promised such a statement. What he intended to have said was to the same effect as the answer which he had just given to an hon. Gentleman opposite (Mr. Heygate) namely, that the disposal of Burlington House and Gardens was under the consideration of the Government; and he hoped shortly to be able to announce the decision come to by the Government on the matter.

LORD JOHN MANNERS

said, what he wished to ask was, whether the right hon. Gentleman intends to make any statement on the subject before the Vote is taken on Thursday?

MR. COWPER

said, as the decision of the Government had not been come to as yet on the subject, it would be quite impossible for him to make any statement on or before Thursday.