MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)To ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, has the attention of the Secretary for Foreign Affairs been given to the Report of Mr. Consul-General Chapman, dated 5th March, 1904, on the changes in the distribution of works of art in the royal galleries of Florence; does the preparation of such Reports as this come within the sphere of Consular duties; and will he consider the propriety of abstaining in future from 522 printing and circulating Reports of this character at the public expense.
(Answered by Earl Percy.) I. Yes, Sir. 2. Consular officers are expected to send home from time to time, in addition to their annual Reports on trade, special Reports on subjects of general interest, including the arts and sciences. The Report in question is supplementary to a Report by Consul-General Chapman on "Florence, its Administration and Institutions." which was laid before Parliament in June, 1898. 3. It is not intended to publish Reports of this character except in special instances; but the Secretary of State would prefer not to lay down any hard and fast rule on the subject.