§ MR. COOPEasked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether he is now in a position to state to the House the intentions of Government with reference to the National Portrait Gallery?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. PLUNKET)Since the last occasion on which my attention was called to the danger from fire to the National Portrait Gallery by the Question of my hon. Friend, I have, as I promised the House that I would, inquired carefully into the subject, and I have bad the advantage of conferring with, the trustees of the collection and with Captain Shaw of the Fire Brigade, and I have come decidedly to the opinion that the present position of this invaluable collection in the Southern Exhibition Gallery at Kensington is most unsatisfactory, and that the pictures 1205 ought immediately to be transferred to a place of greater safety. A suggestion has been made that they should be removed from the southern to the western gallery; but Captain Shaw has reported to me that the construction of that gallery is not satisfactory either, and that the risks from the surrounding buildings are similar to those in connection with their present position. There is not, at present, any other suitable place that I can offer for their exhibition, and the trustees have decided to request the (Science and Art Department to receive these pictures as a loan and exhibit them at Bethnal Green Museum. That is, of course, only a temporary measure. I feel certain that Parliament and public opinion will desire that a suitable and perfectly safe building should be specially provided for this most interesting collection, which, in case of its destruction, it would be impossible to replace; and I cannot help thinking that if such a permanent home were found for it the collection would much more rapidly increase. At all events, I shall during the Recess consider the question of a proper site and a proper building for such a purpose; so that, if possible, some proposal on the subject may be made to Parliament next year.