HC Deb 22 August 1895 vol 36 cc561-2
* MR. WILLIAM JOHNSTON

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Council of Education if he will explain why the statue of Oliver Cromwell has been removed from the Cromwell Road entrance of South Kensington Museum; when, and by whose authority, it was removed; and, what has been done with the statue?

THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Sir JOHN GORST,) Cambridge University

The statue referred to by the hon. Member is a plaster cast, which was withdrawn from exhibition last June by the authority of the Committee of Council, who did not consider its artistic merit sufficient to justify its retention. It is now stored in the old iron building belonging to the Museum.

MR. WILLIAM JOHNSTON

Will the right hon. Gentleman give his assistance to get a proper artistic statue put up at Westminster?

[No answer was returned.]