§ MR. COCHRAN-PATRICKasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, If there is any truth in the report that the Scotch State Papers in the Hamilton Collection have been offered to the British Government; and, if there is any hope that these may still be secured for the National Collection?
§ MR. COURTNEYSir, neither the Treasury, as a Department, nor my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has any information to the effect of the hon. Member's suggestion. If these documents are ever offered for sale by the German Government, the Trustees of the British Museum and the Government will doubtless have an opportunity of considering whether the whole or any part of them should be purchased; and, if so, how much may properly be expended upon them.