§ MR. MITCHELL-THOMSONI beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether many of the valuable and rare objects in the Royal Scottish Museum in Edinburgh are placed there on loan; and, if so, whether in case of fire occurring there, owing to the neglect to which attention is called in the Report for 1907, of precautions to remove premises stored with highly combustible materials from immediate proximity to the museum buildings, the Government will hold itself responsible to the lenders for any loss sustained by them.
§ MR. SINCLAIRFrom time to time loan collections are exhibited in the museum. Before accepting any objects on loan for exhibition the owner is informed by letter that loans to the museum are at owners' risk and in particular that the museum authorities cannot undertake to insure against the risk of fire.
§ MR. MITCHELL-THOMSONWhen are the precautions referred to in the report likely to be taken?
§ MR. YOUNGER (Ayr Burghs)Do not the insurance companies charge an extra premium for fire risks in consequence of these dangers?
§ MR. SINCLAIRI am quite aware of all these disadvantageous circumstances, but I can give the House no more information at present.