HC Deb 25 May 1883 vol 279 cc898-9
MR. CAVENDISH BENTINCK

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, At whose suggestion, and upon whose advice, the proposal for a painting by Sir F. Leighton, at the South Kensington Museum, to cost £3,000, was sanctioned by the Treasury; whether the proposal for so important an expenditure was brought under the notice of himself or the Chancellor of the Exchequer; whether it is the fact that designs and cartoons for this painting have not been already prepared; and, why the proposed expenditure on account of these designs has not been included or mentioned in any Estimate submitted to Parliament?

MR. GLADSTONE

Sir, this is rather a Question for the Secretary to the Treasury, except as to one point involved in it—that is to say, whether any proposal for this expenditure of £3,000 on a picture by Sir Frederick Leighton was ever brought under the knowledge of myself, or of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. With regard to my own knowledge, I may say that the question would not necessarily come before mo; but it would probably involve some consideration, and would be disposed of by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I have inquired of my right hon. Friend, and I find that it was not made known to him. The reason was that it was granted almost as a formal complement of the engagements and arrangements that had been already formed. That is rather a long story, going back to the years 1871–2, when the designs for these works were ordered and paid for by money voted by this House, and one of the pictures has been absolutely finished. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer was, I think, abroad at the time when the business actually passed through the Treasury; and the matter was regarded as the fulfilment of engagements that had already been formed.

MR. CAVENDISH BENTINCK

Will the right hon. Gentleman lay on the Table the Correspondence which has taken place on the subject?

MR. GLADSTONE

If the right hon. and learned Gentleman will be good enough to communicate with my right hon. Friend he will give him all the details. It hardly requires, I think, that the Papers should be printed.