§ LORD ELCHOsaid, he rose to ask the first Commissioner of Works, Whether the Government have taken any, and, if so, what steps to give effect to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Royal Academy; and, when the removal of the whole of the late International Exhibition Building will be completed, and what is intended to be done with the site?
MR. COWPERSir, the Royal Commission, which was moved for by my noble Friend, recommended several alterations in the constitution and mode of proceedings of the Royal Academy; and it appeared expedient to the Government to ascertain the views entertained by the Royal Academy on these questions, and they were directed to consider the subject, and report on it to Her Majesty. I understand the Royal Academy have been in deliberation on the subject for some time, but hitherto they have made no Report. With regard to 794 the second part of the question—the site has not yet been cleared of the building. There has been very considerable delay, and the Government have made remonstrances to Messrs. Kelk and Lucas, but at present the removal of the building is going on rapidly. But I have not received from Messrs. Kelk and Lucas any assurance as to the period at which the land will be entirely clear of the work now in progress. Preliminary steps have been taken towards the decision as to the building hereafter to be erected on that site. I have invited a competition of architectural plans and designs of the buildings hereafter to be erected, and they will have reference to the ultimate disposal of the whole site.