52. Lieut.-Colonel PINKHAMasked the Prime Minister whether the Government is making itself in any way responsible for the War Exhibition at the Crystal Palace; whether any Government Department is taking part in the preparations for the proposed exhibition; if so, which Department or Departments; whether any public money is being spent directly or indirectly on the exhibition; and, if so, what amount, who authorised such expenditure, and under what Vote will it come before the House?
§ The FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS (Sir Alfred Mond)It has been arranged to house the exhibits of the Imperial War Museum, which has been formed by the Government during the War as a permanent record of the War, in the Crystal Palace. My Department, according to the usual practice, is responsible for providing the accommodation, and, with Treasury approval, a tenancy agreement was entered into for four years from the 1st April next, at a rent of £25,000 per annum, inclusive of the cost of repairs, heating, lighting, attendance, and police. The exhibits are being arranged by the Museum staff. The expenditure for the current year has been voted under Supplementary Estimates, Class I., Vote 10, and Class IV., Vote 7.