§ LORD BALCARRES (Lancashire, Chorley)To ask the First Commissioner of Works if he will give the most strict orders that no workman employed on the stand outside the National Gallery shall be allowed to smoke there, in view of the information sent him by the Member for the Chorley Division of Lancashire, that, on the 18th instant, at 12.58 p.m., he saw an artizan smoking while seated upon a pile of rubbish and dry wood in the most westerly gangway of the stand.
(Answer.) Strict orders against smoking had been given, and have been reiterated with strong cautions. I am assured that the police are vigilant in enforcing them, and that a man could not escape detection for more than a very short time, but I am much obliged to my noble friend for bringing this case to my notice. I at once made inquiries and found that on the occasion referred to the regular watchman of the workmen was temporarily absent, and that the man in charge during his absence, who should have prevented such an offence, had been dismissed by the contractors.—(Office of Works.)