HC Deb 16 December 1908 vol 198 cc1863-5
LORD BALCARRES (Lancashire, Chorley)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education what proportion of the £11,260 voted for 1908–9 as the art purchase grant for the Victoria and Albert Museum has been expended during the first eight months of the financial year.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Mr. RUNCIMAN,) Dewsbury

The noble Lord's Question is based on a misapprehension as regards the money to which he refers. The £11,000 is not given by the Exchequer to be spent in the financial year; it is a grant-in-aid—unexpended balances not surrendered—placed regularly to the credit of the Art Museum for purchasing such objects as it may from time to time be expedient to procure to strengthen particular sections of the museum exhibits, or to secure some specially desirable object that happens to be for sale. During the last few months I have thought it expedient, in the best interests of the museum, to direct that the officials should refrain from making any purchases at all except in the case of such few objects as presented exceptional opportunities that ought not to be missed. I did so, and am still doing so, in order that there might thus be accumulated a substantial sum with which to start the museum upon the important new stage in its career that will commence when the occupation of the large new premises is proceeded with. The sorting and rearrangement of the various objects of the museum collections in the extended new galleries and courts will demonstrate in a way hitherto impossible which of the various departments of the museum are most in need of development by careful purchasing, and in which of them the needs are less pressing. For this purpose the accumulations now in hand resulting from the savings of the last two years, amounting to some £11,000, will then be at our disposal.

LORD BALCARRES

But how much of the money voted this year has been actually spent?

MR. RUNCIMAN

I cannot give the exact amount. There was a balance carried forward from last year, and we have made purchases to the amount of £2,900 this year.

LORD BALCARRES

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education if, prior to the adoption of the scheme to reorganise the Victoria and Albert Museum as outlined by the Departmental Committee, the House of Commons can be given an opportunity of discussing the matter, in view of the proposal to revise the museum policy consistently followed for nearly fifty years.

MR. RUNCIMAN

The reply to the hon. Member's Question is necessarily of some length; and if he will permit me, I will hand it in at the Table to be printed, sending him a copy; as this will, I think, better meet the convenience of the House.

LORD BALCARRES

I am only asking that Parliament may have a voice in the policy reversing the uniform practice of the last fifty years.

MR. RUNCIMAN

I cannot admit that there has been a departure from uniform practice, or that there has been any uniform practice of that period. Any Question as to the disposition of the time of the House must obviously be addressed to the Prime Minister.