§ Motion made, and Question proposed,
§ "That a sum, not exceeding £2,965, be granted to His Majesty, to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1916, for the Salaries and Expenses in respect of the London Museum, Lancaster House." [NOTE.—£2,500 has been voted on account.]
§ Mr. KINGI must refer to the question of the police once more, because we have now the advantage of the presence of the Financial Secretary. We had a reduced sum for the police in the last Vote and also in the Vote for the National Portrait Gallery, and I am glad to see that that applies also in regard to the London Museum. I should like to know why the sum has been reduced in these cases, when, in regard to the South Kensington Museum, it has been found necessary to increase the amount?
§ Mr. MONTAGUAll that I can tell my hon. Friend is that we are guided in these matters by those who are responsible for the protection of these invaluable collections. The guiding principle is that, having regard to the demands made upon the Metropolitan Police Force, we should do with as few police as possible. During the War it has been noticeable in the Metropolis that all classes of citizens have been more law abiding and better disposed towards properly constituted authority than usual, and for that reason it has been possible to do with a smaller number of police. It is also true that the number of visitors to the museums during the War has been reduced, and, as a consequence, the guardianship of these collections has not been so onerous. The number of police in the different buildings depends also upon the construction of the building and the disposition of the objects therein contained.
§ Question put, and agreed to.