§ MR. WAITasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it is the intention of the Treasury to authorize the necessary expenditure for the construction of the New National Gallery, in accordance with the understanding long ago come to with Mr. E. M. Barry, a new facade being rendered necessary owing to the unsightly additions lately made to the present building?
§ MR. DISRAELII can find, Sir, no evidence whatever of any understanding being come to with Mr. E. M. Barry about a new façade; but realty the pith of the Question is whether Her Majesty's Government intend to erect under the circumstances a new facade. Now, the erection of a new facade is a very delicate business, and considering we have not yet been three months in office, I may say I shall require considerably more time to inquire into the subject before I could embark in such an enterprise. At present Her Majesty's Government have no intention whatever of proposing to the House the erection of a new façade.