§ MR. SCLATER-BOOTHasked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether a contract has been entered into for the construction of the Natural History Museum at Kensington; and, if so, how many persons were invited to compete and what is the amount of the tender accepted? He also inquired whether the Government intended to introduce any measure for the removal of the collection?
§ MR. AYRTON,in reply, said, it was always the object of the Office of Works to invite persons to tender who were disposed to do so, and to have as many tenders as possible for an important work. In that case 21 persons had been invited to send in tenders, but only 17 had complied with the request. The original tenders sent in were all very much in excess of the sum which it was determined to expend on that building. The matter was therefore referred back to the architect for further examination, and ultimately a contract was entered into with a firm for £352,000; but in addition to that there would be other sums which would bring the entire amount up to the sum named in the Estimates. He was not aware that it was the intention of the Government to introduce such a Bill as the hon. Gentleman alluded to in the present Session, because the Museum could not be removed until the building was completed, and the time allowed for its construction was three years.