§ SIR J. FERGUSSON (Manchester, N.E.)I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether the Nelson Memorial on Portsdown Hill, which was erected by the crew of the "Victory," is being removed, and, if so, why this is being done; why expensive scaffolding was erected round the Memorial last autumn, and, after standing through the winter, was taken down without further work being done, and again erected; and whether several hundred pounds were wasted in this way.
§ THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN,) Worcestershire, E.This monument, standing on War Office land, was formerly in charge of that Office. It was reported, on examination last autumn, that the monument was in such bad repair as practically to require rebuilding. At the suggestion of the Treasury the monument and the land on which it stands has now been transferred to the Admiralty, who have accepted the trust and will hence-forth repair and maintain this national memorial. The scaffolding referred to as 1168 having been taken down was erected by War Office contractors in order that the condition of the work might be properly examined. The estimate given by this firm for the necessary repairs was declined by the Admiralty, on the ground that it was excessive, and the work is now being carried out by another firm at considerably less than half the cost. The change has therefore resulted in a large saying, and not, as suggested in the question, in the waste of several hundred pounds.
§ SIR J. FERGUSSONIs the monument to be restored and not moved?
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINIt is being restored, and will henceforth be maintained in proper condition by the Admiralty.