§ Motion made, and Question proposed,
§ "That a sum, not exceeding £48,582, 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 sundry Grants in Aid of Scientific Investigation, etc., and other Grants." [NOTE.—£42,000 has been voted on account.]
1109§ Mr. KINGHere is an opportunity for a word of explanation which will be very welcome. A Supplementary Estimate is to be put forward at a later stage on behalf of scientific research. It would be just and right that the right hon. Gentleman should give us a brief survey showing what is already being done in connection with scientific research and how it is proposed to be supplemented or added to in the future.
§ Mr. LYNCHI should like to know what really are the functions of the British Academy. It has always been a great mystery to me what even the British Academy really is, and what right it has to use the title by which it is known. Four hundred pounds is put down for the service of the British Academy. What is the employment of that sum? If time permitted, and the Debate were more likely to be followed up by something of reality, I could point out the discrepancy between the £400 voted for the British Academy, which is sheer waste, and the very inadequate sum voted for biological research. I should like to see the whole perspective changed, so that immensely important work of real utility, such as that of biological research, might be encouraged, and all attempts to departmentalise literature and make it a kind of function of the State, or anything of that kind, especially in such uncongenial soil as that of Great Britain, might cease.
§ Mr. KINGPerhaps we could also have some explanation why £300 is given to the Royal Hibernian Academy, while the British Academy receives only £400. It seems to me, without any disrespect to the nationality of my hon. Friend (Mr. Lynch), that if you give the Royal Hibernian Academy £300, you ought to give the British Academy at least £600.
§ Mr. MONTAGUWith regard to the relation between this Vote and the Supplementary Estimate which is to be moved later on, the Supplementary Estimate is for a different purpose altogether. It is with a view to supplying all the assistance which science can give to the technical training of those who are going to embark on experiments in industry, with a view to capturing some of those specialised trades which have in the past been the prerogative of our enemy. The Grants under this Vote are nearly all well-established Grants. I can well imagine Members saying that in this time of war, when strict economy must be practised, it would 1110 be desirable to reduce these Grants; but when from year to year you give scientific institutions Grants from the Treasury by means of which they are enabled to engage officials or to lay down plant, it is impossible to withdraw those Grants without grave derangement of duties involving the dismissal of officials, or the dispensing with plant. As regards the British Academy, I can give my hon. Friend a certain amount of information. The British Academy received a Royal Charter on the 8th August, 1902. Its objects are the promotion of the study of moral and political science, including history, philosophy, law, politics, economics, and archaeology. The hon. Member showed a predilection for biology, which is not one of the objects of the British Academy.
§ Mr. MONTAGUI should prefer to leave to the Chief Secretary, or some other well-educated person, the task of deciding as between one science and another, and of saying which ought to be the more highly appraised in the matter of pounds, shillings, and pence. All I can say is that at the usual time it receives this Grant for a specific piece of work, the publication of Ancient Historical Documents illustrative of the Social and Economic History of England and Wales. This is an undertaking which in peace times the Government have accepted. It is not yet complete.
§ Mr. MONTAGUNo, I am afraid I have not the information, but I can refer the hon. Member to the charter, which has been published. I have no doubt it will assist him to get the information he requires. The Royal Hibernian Academy also has a charter, dating from 1823. The amount of Grants which these various institutions receive must again not be measured by the nationality of those who are connected with them, or their domicile, but by the amount of their expenditure, and the value put upon it by the House of Commons in peace times. The Royal Hibernian Academy Grant has not been increased. On the Vote altogether there is a very satisfactory net decrease of £14,105.
§ Sir J.D. REESWill the right hon. Gentleman kindly explain to me the provision of £1,500 for the School of Oriental 1111 Studies? Is the scheme, which, after long consideration, was finally adopted by the Committee, to be brought to full fruition in 1915 or 1916? If so, will £1,500 suffice? I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman once again if he will represent in the right quarter, or himself consider, whether, it would not be possible to bring the Russian language under the head of oriental studies for the purposes connected with this School of Oriental Studies? I am glad to see that something is to be done. We have occular proof that something is being done to fit up the buildings in Finsbury Circus for this school. The matter has been hanging over for a very long time. I understood from Ministers I have questioned that nothing would be done in this current year on account of the War. Therefore I am in some little doubt about the provision of the £1,500. Will the right hon. Gentleman enlighten me so far as he can, and if he is not prepared with the information, will he kindly inquire?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI am afraid it is not possible to go fully into the activities of the School of Oriental Studies. This £1,500 is due under an old pledge. The hon. Member knows how long this project has been under discussion. Early representations were made by very influential people that a School of Oriental Studies was very urgently demanded, and that before you began you must furnish the building. This is merely to be regarded as a furnishing grant for the completion of this undertaking.
§ Question put, and agreed to.