§ SIR FRANCIS POWELL (Wigan)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he has taken into consideration the first, Report of the Select Committee on Museums of the Science and Art Department; and, whether he is prepared to state what course the Government propose to adopt in order to protect the collection at South Kensington from the danger pointed to in that Report of injury or even total destruction by fire?
§ MR. WHITMORE (Chelsea)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works what steps he proposes to take to protect the contents of the South Kensington Museum from the immediate danger of fire; and whether, in view of the gravity of the interim Report of the Select Committee, the Government will at once proceed with the erection of the necessary new permanent buildings for the Museum?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS,) Kent, St. Augustine'sI am afraid I can at present only refer the hon. Baronet and my hon. Friend the Member for Chelsea to the answer given to a question on this subject on Friday last by my right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Treasury. With regard to the Report of the Committee, I desire to say that it was presented without the Treasury or the Office of Works being invited to furnish evidence in the case.