§ LORD ROBERT CECILsaid, he rose to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether the report is true that the Government have offered or intend to become purchasers of the building in which the Exhibition of 1862 was contained; and, if so, what sum they propose to pay for it, and at what period of the Session they intend to bring forward the Estimate? He would only ask the first part of the question, because, unless the answer should be in the affirmative, it would not be worth while to ask the latter part.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, in reply, that he had been questioned upon the subject a few weeks since, when he gave the best answer he was then able to give. He was not now able to make any further statement upon the subject, but he could assure the noble Lord, that if the Government should offer or intend to become purchasers of the Exhibition building, they would give the earliest information in their power to the House; and in case they should intend any step requiring a Vote of money, they would take care to lay an estimate before the House at an early period, and bring the matter under discussion in the manner which might be thought most convenient.