32. Mr. SANDEMANasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether, on account of its irritating effect on Members, he will remove from Committee Room No. 10 the Painting of Alfred inciting the Saxons to prevent the landing of the Danes?
§ Mr. GODFREY LOCKER-LAMPSON (for the FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS)I ant not aware that the picture in question has such an effect on Members as to justify its removal.
Mr. SANDEMANWill the hon. Gentleman go into the Committee Room for five minutes, contemplate the legs of King Alfred, and having done so, try to concentrate on the work going on in the Committee Room; and if he comes to the same conclusion as I have reached, will he, at least, have the picture removed to the other end of the room? Failing that, will the hon. Gentleman say whether he himself would like to go down to posterity depicted with legs on him like those of King Alfred in the picture?
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI have looked at the picture this morning. I do not know if the hon. Member is aware that it is a very fine example of the early work of Watts, one of our most celebrated artists.
§ Major HORE-BELISHAIn view of this monarch's connection with cooking, will the hon. Gentleman have the picture put up in the Tea Room?
§ Mr. MACQUISTENWill the hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of getting a picture painted for the other end of the room showing the Members for Glasgow resisting the invasion of the Irish into Scotland?
§ Mr. NEIL MACLEANWill the hon. Gentleman consider the putting of another picture on the side wall of the room, showing the hon. Gentleman the Member for Argyllshire (Mr. Macquisten) being rejected by Glasgow at an Election?