§ SIR HENRY ROSCOEI beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that the accommodation for the teaching of science at the only Government science school in this country—namely, the Royal College of Science, has been generally acknowledged to be altogether inadequate; and whether sketch plans of laboratories for chemistry and physics, proposed to be erected on the newly-acquired Government land west of Exhibition Road, have been prepared by the Professors of Chemistry and Physics, and sent in at the request of the Board of Works; and, if so, whether he is prepared, seeing the importance of the effectual teaching of science, to take steps to have working plans made for new buildings for the above purposes?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREThe accommodation at the Royal College of Science is now undoubtedly inadequate, and in my opinion new buildings must be undertaken at some early opportunity. Block plans were drawn up in 1891 by the Professors of the Royal College of Science, showing a suggested appropriation of the land on the south side of Imperial Institute Road, for the purposes both of the Royal College of Science and of the Science Museum, and these plans were submitted to the Office of 956 Works. But that Department pointed out that it would be premature for them to consider the plans until the Science and Art Department had obtained the sanction of the treasury to an organisation of their Teaching and Exhibition Establishments on the scale contemplated in the plans. I understand that the Science and Art Department are now in communication with the Treasury in this sense.
§ SIR HENRY ROSCOEWill the Report from the Science and Art Department be shortly issued, or shall we have a long time to wait for it?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREI do not think it will be a Report of a nature to be issued to Parliament, but I should be glad to show it to the hon. Member privately if he wishes.