§ ME. HAROLD COX (Preston)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Indian princes and other persons who subscribed money for the building and endowment of the Imperial Institute were consulted before it was decided to devote throe-fifths of the building to the purposes of the London University; and whether any offer was made to refund to them the whole or a proportional part of their subscriptions.
(Answered by Mr. Kearley.) I am not aware what communications, if any, took place between the former Council of the Imperial Institute and the subscribers before making the arrangement with the Treasury under which, in consideration of certain financial advantages to the Imperial Institute, a portion of the building was devoted to the London University. This change was effected in 1899, before the Imperial Institute (Transfer) Act, 1902, placed the management of the Imperial Institute under the Board of Trade.