§ MR. YOXALL (Nottinghamshire, W.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the representations made by the British Archæological Association and other societies against the contemplated demolition of certain houses at Stratford-on-Avon situated near the house in which Shakespeare was born; and whether he can take any steps in the matter.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.I have received private communications upon the subject to which the hon. Gentleman refers in his Question; but I have not as yet received any communications from the British Archæological Association, or any other society, upon the matter. They may possibly be on their way. As the hon. Gentleman is aware, the Government have no power in a matter like this, and I should rather deprecate the idea that the Government are qualified to intervene in a matter of taste. We have no Minister to whom that duty is 541 assigned, and I do not think the Government is very well qualified to deal with it. Whether that general proposition be accepted by the hon. Gentleman or not, he must understand that at the present moment we have no power to deal with this question.