§ * MR. SYDNEY GEDGE () WalsallI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether any steps have been taken by the Government to inquire into and remedy the grievances complained of by the higher officers in the British Museum; and whether, if a Committee of Inquiry has been appointed, he will lay upon the Table a, statement of their names and of the terms of reference?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.The Departmental Committee to which my hon. Friend referred has not yet met, but will do so after the Easter holidays. The names of the gentlemen composing it are Sir E. Hamilton, Sir A. Godley, and Mr. G. H. Murray. With regard to the terms of reference the Committee has been appointed to inquire into the organisation, pay, and duties of the Museum staff, including the system under which the staff is recruited and the reasons for or against competitive examination, either limited or otherwise the classification, scale of salary, and hours of attendance required to insure the efficient and proper discharge of the duties of the establishment; and whether it is practicable to assign clerical and routine work wholly or in part to clerks of the second division; and generally, any matters connected with the Museum establishment in regard to which they may be of opinion that alteration of existing regulations is desirable.