§ *MR. P. W. WILSON (St. Pancras, S.)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether it is proposed to utilise the space behind the National Gallery of Art, at Millbank, for the purpose of building a new Stationery Office or other Government Office; and, seeing that such building, if erected, would render it impossible to make additions to the Art Gallery, which is becoming overcrowded with pictures, whether ho will consider the advisability of reserving this ground for the extension of the Gallery.
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. HARCOURT,) Lancashire, RossendaleThe reply to the first paragraph is in the affirmative; in accordance with a scheme sanctioned by my predecessor it was proposed to build the Stationery Office upon the vacant land behind the National Gallery of Art at Millbank. The extensions originally contemplated when the site was offered by the Government to Sir Henry Tate in 1893 have already been made. I will make inquiry as to the future needs of the Gallery, and will reconsider the matter before next year's Estimates are framed. I may mention that some space is still reserved for the purpose of the Gallery.