§ Mr. KELLAWAYasked if the Secretary to the Treasury is aware that numerous complaints have been made of the way in which the National Gallery authorities supplied the information concerning the new wing to one newspaper only; if he is aware that similar complaints have been made from time to time by all sections of the Press of the manner in which this public Department is allowing to be withheld from the great majority of the public the news of the work it is doing; and whether, as the Department exists for the public and not the public for the Department, he will ascertain who has been responsible for this partiality, and will take such steps as will make a repetition of it impossible?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSENo such complaints have reached me. The present practice, as stated in my reply to the hon. Member on 9th March, appears to me to be reasonable, and I see no reason to interfere in the matter.
§ Mr. KELLAWAYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that that fact did not prevent on Friday a repetition of the state of things complained of?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI think I admitted, in answer to a question put by my hon. Friend, that the matter has been brought to the attention of the authorities concerned.