§ MR. CAVENDISH BENTINCKsaid, he would beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works, Whether he will state the names of the gentlemen appointed to serve on the Committee for the selection of the Architects who are to compete for the new Law Courts; whether the number of Architects is determined, and who is to have the final decision on the merits of the plans; and, whether he will lay upon the table the proceedings of the Royal Commission?
§ MR. COWPERSir, in reply to the hon. Member, I have to state that by the Courts 814 of Justice Building Act of last year, it was provided that the plans and arrangements of the Courts of Justice should be laid down by the Treasury with the advice and concurrence of such persons as Her Majesty might appoint for that purpose. A Commission, called the Courts of Justice Commission, was appointed, consisting of the Lord Chancellor and of most of the Judges and members of every branch of the legal profession. That Commission carefully considered the steps that ought to be taken in the selection of an architect. They prepared instructions, and came to a resolution that the competitors for the design of the building should be limited to six. The actual selection of these six architects has been confided to a Committee composed by the nomination partly of the Courts of Justice Commission, and partly of the Treasury. The two persons who were nominated by the Courts of Justice Commission, were the Lord Chief Justice of England and the Attorney General, the other persons are the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the First Commissioner of Works, and the hon. Member for Perthshire (Mr. W. Stirling). This Committee met, and they have selected six architects. The Committee are also to decide on the selection of a design for the erection of the buildings. With regard to the proceedings of the Royal Commission, that Commission has not yet come to any decision as to the time and manner in which they will report those proceedings. Therefore, I am unable to tell when the proceedings will be published.
§ In answer to an hon. MEMBER,
§ MR. COWPERsaid, the names of the architects chosen to compete for the plans of the new Courts of Justice were Mr. Scott, Mr. Barry, Mr. Street, Mr. Water-house, Mr. Wyatt, and Mr. Hardwicke.