§ MR. LANE-FOX (Yorkshire, W.E., Barkston Ash)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Selby Abbey has been completely gutted by fire; and that when York Minster was burnt down in 1829 the Government of the day gave a grant of £5,000 worth of oak from the Government dockyards towards its restoration; and whether His Majesty's Government can on this occasion make any grant or give any assistance in the similar work of restoration at Selby.
§ THE CHANCELLOE OF THE EX-CHEQUEE (Mr. ASQUITH,) Fifeshire, EastI have made inquiries at the Record Office, but have not be able to ascertain precisely what occurred in 1829, the precedent to which the hon. Member refers. The present case does not appear prima facie to be one to which the Government could properly make a grant of public money, but I have no official information, nor have I received any application on the subject.