§ MR. JESSE COLLINGSI beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education what portion, if any, of the £3,500 increase in the Vote for South Kensington Museum under Sub-head F (Purchases for Museum and Circulation) will be devoted to the acquisition of original objects for the permanent Collections of Provincial Museums?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Mr. ACLAND,) York, W.R., RotherhamThe increased amount taken for purchases is a restoration of the amount taken off the Estimates in 1892–3. This Vote is not for the ac- 940 quisition of objects for the Collections of Provincial Museums, but for objects for the South Kensington Museum, many of which are constantly in circulation outside London. I have taken special care that a full proportion of the objects purchased with the sum now added to the Estimates will be circulated in the Provinces.
§ MR. JESSE COLLINGSI beg also to ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will state the number of Museum keepers and assistant Museum keepers at the South Kensington Museum, the nature of their duties, and rates of payment?
§ MR. ACLANDThere are at the South Kensington Museum, as will be seen by reference to the Estimates—four Museum keepers, with salaries rising from £500 to £600; three Museum keepers, with salaries rising from £410 to £500; (second grade) eight assistant Museum keepers, £100 to £400. The keepers receive 5s. per hour, and the assistant keepers 3s. per hour, in addition to their salaries, when they are required to be in attendance after 6 p.m. on the nights when the Museums and Libraries are open to the public. The total amount paid for this service last year was £415 12s. The keepers are charged with the general supervision of their respective divisions, including the registration and arrangement of the objects, in which work they are assisted by the assistant keepers.