§ CAPTAIN DONELANOn behalf of the hon. Member for North Wexford, I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if in view of the fact that large sums of money have been granted by Parliament under exceptional circumstances to buy pictures for the English National Gallery, while no money has ever been similarly granted to buy pictures for the Irish National Gallery, he will take the necessary steps to secure the Jan Vermeer, now being exhibited by Messrs. Forbes and Paterson in New Bond Street, for the Irish National Gallery.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not think it would be desirable to alter the present system of contribution to the Irish National Gallery. It is perfectly true that there has been a change such as the hon. Member suggests in connection with the English National Gallery, but that is consequent on and connected with a proceeding by which the annual sum given to the English National Gallery has been cut down by half.