§ 59. Mr. GILBERTasked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the site purchased by the Government behind the British Museum has been handed over to the University of London or remains in 2366 the hands of the Government; whether the agreement with the Council of King's College upon which the acceptance of the site by the Senate of the University was conditional has been effected; whether any funds have been collected by the University for the erection of permanent buildings on the site; and whether the Government have considered disposing by public sale of the site in the interest of economy?
Mr. YOUNGI have been asked to reply. The Bloomsbury site still remains in the possession of His Majesty's Government and is administered by the Office of Works. A small portion of the site, however, is occupied by the University of London on a sub-tenancy from the Y.M.C.A., and the University have erected thereon, with the consent of the Government, an institute of historical research. With regard to the second part of the question, the Senate of the University, in accepting the Government's offer of the Bloomsbury site, stipulated, inter alia, that an agreement should be concluded between His Majesty's Government, the Council of King's College, and the Senate of the University as to the terms of the removal of King's College from the Strand to the Bloomsbury site. His Majesty's Government accepted this condition, but such an agreement has not yet been concluded. As far as I am aware, no funds have yet been collected by the University for the erection of permanent buildings on the site. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.