§ MR. BAIRD (Glasgow, Central)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he is aware that the demand for aid for local Museums is steadily increasing, while the grant has been diminished from £1,000 in 1889 to £500 this year; and whether the grant is restricted to the purchase of reproductions and plaster casts; if so, whether he will widen the scope so as to include the purchase of works of art, and recommend the increase of the grant to at least its former amount?
§ MR. ACLANDThe applications received by the Science and Art Department do not show that the demand for aid for local Museums is steadily increasing. The demands for 1892 and the present year are only about half those for 1889'and 1890, and the demands in 1892 were not sufficient to absorb the Vote of £800 taken that year. The grant is not restricted to the purchase of reproductions and plaster casts, but may be made for the purchase of original objects. In considering the applications, however, preference is always given, when the total applications exceed the amount of the grant, to those for reproductions. In view of the large amount now placed at the disposal of Local Authorities under the Local Taxation (Customs and Excise) Act, which can be devoted to this purpose, and of the very grave difficulties inseparable from dealing with grants for original objects, I am not at present prepared to recommend the increase of the grant.