§ MR. HORNIMAN (Chelsea)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works if he will state at what date the Vctoria and Albert Museum will be completed; whether there is still a considerable amount of painting and decorating to be done; how many men are at present employed on this work; whether he can arrange for more to be put on immediately; and whether he will consider the advisability of completing the new building and transferring the contents of the museum to the same as soon as possible, so that employment may be given by cleansing and redecorating the older portions of the museum.
§ MR. L. HARCOURTIt will probably be completed by the end of January or beginning of February. There is some plain painting and distempering to be done; but nothing that can be called "decoration." There are about 170 men employed on this work, and I fear that there is no likelihood of a larger number being employed. The new building will be completed and the contents of the museum transferred to it as rapidly as possible.