§ 25. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what is the cost to the National Exchequer of the special police protection required to safeguard the Epstein sculpture in Hyde Park?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 24th instant to a similar question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Brighton.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs it a fact still, as stated by my hon. Friend in a reply in this House in June last, that the cost would be provided by the Hudson Memorial Committee, because the funds from that committee have been dissipated? How is it that it is no longer a cost to public funds?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThere are no extra police detailed for this duty. One of the police already on the spot has been told to pay particular attention to it.
§ Sir W. DAVISONWhat were these police doing before they were employed on this duty? Obviously, they must have had some other duties. How are those duties which they have had to give up in order to protect this monument being performed?
§ Mr. SMITHERSWill the hon. Gentleman refer the whole question to the Fine Arts Commission?
§ 26. Mr. BASIL PETOasked the Undersecretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the First Commissioner will approve of the question of the retention or removal of the panel by Mr. Epstein from the Hudson memorial in Hyde Park being referred to the Royal Fine Arts Commission; and whether he can give the names of the Commissioners?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONAfter full consideration the First Commissioner sees no reason for referring this question 1806 to the Fine Arts Commission. I am sending the hon. Member a list of the members of the Commission.
§ Mr. PETOArising out of that reply, may I have leave to ask the hon. Member a further question? As the First Commissioner says that he sees no reason to refer this matter to the Fine Arts Commission, will he consider representations by the subscribers to this memorial fund, if they show that the subscribers were never consulted as to statuary of any kind by Mr. Epstein or anyone else being part of that for which their money was to be used?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe difficulty is that the subscribers to the memorial were living in all parts of the world. It was really quite impossible, so I understand, for the particular sketch to be sent all over the world and for replies to be received in time.
Lieut.-Colonel DALRYMPLE WHITEWill the hon. Gentleman consider the suggestion that has been made to plant ivy over the panel so as to hide the lady, and make a nice rustic ornament?
§ Sir W. DAVISONWill the hon. Gentleman inform the House what is the object of having a Fine Arts Commission at all if matters such as this, which is a subject of controversy, are not referred to them for decision?
§ Sir WALTER de FRECECould there not be a charge for admission to those who wish to view this work?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe Fine Arts Commission has only come into existence during the last few months, but it is practically the same as the old Sites Committee, and this piece of statuary was shown to them.
§ Several HON. MEMBERS rose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think this lady has taken up enough time.