DR. KENNYI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will grant a Return showing the number of pictures acquired by purchase by the National Gallery from 1874 to the present date, giving title of painting, name of artist where ascertained, and the price paid in each case?
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTThe information asked for is given for the period from the establishment of the Gallery up to 1869 in House of Lords Paper, No. 198, of 1868–69, and for the following period up to 1884, inclusive, in House of Commons Papers, Nos. 190, of 1870, and 50, of 1884–5. The information for each year since 1884 is given in the Director's Annual Reports, printed year by year, and laid before Parliament, but a separate Return for the period from 1885 to 1894 could be prepared if considered necessary.