§ MR. BAILLIE COCHRANEasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether the Government has subscribed towards the restoration of Saint Margaret's Church; and, if so, whether the restoration may be postponed until the Report of the Committee on Public Buildings has been laid upon the Table, as it may then be considered desirable, if a suitable approach to the Houses of Parliament is to be made, to remove Saint Margaret's, in order to open to view Westminster Abbey; and, whether it is true, as stated in last Monday's papers, that the Commissioners of the Exhibition of 1851 have sold ground on which it is proposed to erect a building so lofty that it will greatly injure the effect of the Albert Memorial?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER,in reply, said, he would answer the second Question first. The Commissioners of the Exhibition of 1851 had recently leased some land in the Kensington Road; but they were exercising great care to prevent the erection of buildings so lofty as to injure the effect of certain monuments, and they had refused to permit the erection of a building which would possibly have the effect of injuring the appearance of the Albert Memorial. With regard to Saint Margaret's Church, a sum of £1,500 had been voted for its restoration, as had been done in former years, owing to the interest which was taken in it by the House. The restoration would be carried out under the direction of the authorities of the parish, and the Government had nothing to do with postponing it, or accelerating it. The works were not likely to be undertaken before the Recess, so that in all probability the Report referred to would be submitted beforehand.