§ MR. HENRY LABOUCHERE (Northampton)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works to whom the statue of the late Mr. John Bright, now in the central Lobby of the House, belongs; and if he is prepared to give an assurance to the House that it will not be taken over either by his Department or by any other Department until the House has had an opportunity to decide as to the desirability of the acquisition of this work of art, with a view to its permanently remaining in its present position?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS,) Kent, St. Augustine'sThe statue of the late Mr. Bright has not yet been formally taken over by the Government, as the consent of the Treasury, which is necessary under the provisions of the Public Statues Act of 1854, has not yet been signified to me. The statue is, therefore, I think, strictly speaking, the property of the committee of the memorial fund, although it was placed in its present position with the joint consent of the Lord Great Chamberlain and myself. I am prepared to give the assurance which the hon. Member asks for.