HC Deb 16 April 1885 vol 296 cc1853-4
MR. DANIEL GRANT

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether he has arranged to provide the funds asked for by the Trustees of the British Museum, to enable them so to light the great national collection that it can remain open for the enjoyment of the public until 10 o'clock at night every week day throughout the year?

MR. MOLLOY

had also the following Question on the Paper:—To ask the junior Member for Leeds, If he has now had an opportunity of consulting with the Treasury, in accordance with his promise to that effect, upon the subject of assisting the Trustees of the British Museum to open that institution to the working classes during the evening; and, if so, can he now state the result?

THE CHANCELLOR or THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)

I have to inform my hon. Friend, in answer to this Question, and also in reference to the Question which the hon. Member for King's County (Mr. Molloy) proposes to ask my hon. Friend the Junior Lord of the Treasury, that no application, so far as I am aware, has been recently made by the Trustees of the British Museum to light what he calls the "great national collection" until 10 o'clock on week days. In 1883 the Trustees applied for funds to light some of the Natural History Galleries at South Kensington, and they were informed that— Before their wish could be further considered it would be necessary that a complete Estimate should be laid before the Treasury of the cost it involved, not only in the erection of plant, machinery, &c., but in the permanent increase that must be apprehended in the charge for services and salaries. They have not furnished us as yet with this information.

MR. DANIEL GRANT

Is it not a fact that the hon. Member for the University of London (Sir John Lubbock) last year stated that an Estimate had been made?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)

I can only say that I have had the Treasury records carefully searched, and I can find no trace of such an Estimate.