§ 8. Mr. KINGasked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he can give any information as to the pictures of the Layard Collection, which have been left to the nation?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Masterman)A large number of pictures have been bequeathed to the Trustees of the National Gallery under the will of the late Sir Henry Layard. The majority of these pictures are now in Venice, and the question of their exportation from Italy is engaging the attention of His Majesty's Ambassador in Rome. I fear it is not possible at the present moment to make any further statement on this subject.