§ MR. LEAI beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works, whether the gold-leaf used fifty years ago for the redecoration of the British Museum reading room was guaranteed as British made; and whether he can give an assurance that the firm who have the contract to redecorate the Museum will use only British made gold-leaf for regilding purposes in connection therewith.
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. HARCOURT,) Lancashire, RossendaleIt is believed that the
†See (4) Debates, clxx, 253.1419 gold-leaf used in 1857 was of British manufacture: there is no record of any guarantee. The reply to the second paragraph is in the affirmative: it has been specified that British made gold-leaf only is to be used.
§ MR. BRIDGEMAN (Shropshire, Oswestry)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if his attention has been directed to the fact that the decoration of the reading room in the British Museum has been placed in the hands of Messrs. Waring and Gillow; if it is proposed that they shall use twenty-five tons of white lead in the process; if he is aware that in France the use of white lead is prohibited in Government contracts; and if he will consider the desirability of taking some steps in the present instance, and of prohibiting the use of white lead in the interior of Government buildings in future contracts.
§ MR. HARCOURTThe contract has been placed with the firm named. No white lead will be used, as the paint has been specified to have a zinc oxide base. This specification is adopted in all contracts for Government buildings.