76. Colonel NEWMANasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sum has been sanctioned by the Treasury for the erection of a spirit room at the back of the Natural 2097 History Museum; and is he prepared, in view of the many calls on the taxpayer, to request the director of the museum to do without a spirit room for the present?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Baldwin)I understand the hon. and gallant Member's question to relate to the proposed new building for the accommodation of the specimens preserved in spirits forming part of the Natural History Museum. Provision was approved by Parliament in the current year's estimate (Class I Vote 6) for the expenditure of £10,000 on commencing this work. The matter was again considered by a Cabinet Committee during the summer with a view to seeing whether it was not possible to postpone it. It was decided that it should proceed. The existing accommodation is not only so inadequate as greatly to reduce the value of the Natural History Museum collections for the purposes of scientific study but also involves a grave risk of fire to the museum and adjoining buildings. The necessary building has already been delayed for several years, during which the position has got steadily worse as the collections accumulated. I fear it is really not practicable to postpone it further.
Colonel NEWMANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the housing of the spirits would cost more than £250,000.
§ Mr. BALDWINMy information is that the provision of this spirit room would cost £75,000.