HC Deb 26 June 1893 vol 14 cc50-1
MR. H. L. W. LAWSON (Gloucester, Cirencester)

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether his attention has been drawn to a Report presented by the Joint Committees of both Houses of Convocation, which were appointed 12 months ago to consider and report on a Petition from the Sunday Society, urging upon the Upper House the desirability of the Sunday opening of Museums and Art Galleries, as a step towards reasonable and due Sunday observance, in which it is said that the cause of religion has nothing to fear from the reasonable and careful extension of the principle of Sunday opening; and whether, under these circumstances, he can hold out any hope of being able to meet the wishes of the working classes of London for the opening of National Museums and Galleries under proper conditions as to the employment of the staff?

THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Mr. ACLAND, York, W.R., Rotherham)

I have seen and read extracts from the Report mentioned by the hon. Gentleman, and I think the statement made and the Resolutions suggested by the Joint Committees are of considerable importance. I understand that the question has not yet come before the Houses of Convocation themselves. One of the chief barriers to undertaking the responsibility of opening Museums and Galleries on Sundays is the last vote in the House of Commons on the 20th March, 1891, when the Resolution moved by the hon. Member was defeated by 166 to 39. If that vote were reversed, the question would assume a very different position.

MR. LAWSON

Will the right hon. Gentleman lay the Report upon the Table?

MR. ACLAND

I will inquire if that can be done.

MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)

Did you not rule, Mr. Speaker, that no distinct statement of opinion ought to be embodied in a question, and do not these words constitute such an expression of opinion—"to meet the wishes of the working classes of London for the opening of National Museums," &c? Is it not a debateable point whether the working classes do wish it, and ought not these words, therefore, to have been omitted?

MR. SPEAKER

I think it is a debateable point, and that the words had better have been omitted.