§ MR. TOMLINSONasked the Junior Lord of the Treasury, as representing the First Commissioner of Public Works, Whether he can state what were the arrangements under which Messrs. Braun and Co. of Germany, and Messrs. Goupil and Co. of Paris were allowed to photograph the pictures at the National Gallery; whether any English firm of pho- 861 tographers would be allowed the same facilities as to taking pictures from the walls or removing the glass, or otherwise, as were allowed to those firms, or either of them, or would be allowed the use of the front of the Gallery for any temporary building; whether any arrangement was made with Messrs. Braun and Co. or Messrs. Goupil and Co. as to the price at which the pictures were to be sold, or as to allowing any copies free of cost to any public institution; whether any payment was made by Messrs. Braun and Co. or Messrs. Goupil and Co. for the privileges accorded to them; and, whether he will lay upon the Table any Papers relating to the subject?
§ MR. HERBERT GLADSTONEwas understood to say that the Office of Works, on the recommendation of the Trustees of the National Gallery, assented to the erection of the temporary building necessary for the photographing of these pictures, as they would in any similar case recommended by the Trustees. The question of the photographing was one for the consideration of the Trustees, over whom the Office of Works had no authority. The only papers in the Office of Works were the two letters asking and giving the above-mentioned permission.