HC Deb 17 April 1899 vol 69 cc1284-5
MR. CARVELL WILLIAMS (Notts, Mansfield)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that St. Paul's is a national building, the Government will cause an inquiry to be made as to the expediency of further carrying out the scheme of internal decoration now in course of execution?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)

The Government has no control over the fabric of St. Paul's Cathedral. As the honourable Member is aware, the Dean of St. Paul's has stated that a memorial signed by some distinguished critics dealing with a certain portion of the new work will receive the fullest consideration. In these circumstances, I am confident that the authorities of the Cathedral will not sanction anything being done that is distasteful to the general body of public opinion.