§ 35. Mr. RAMSDENasked the Home Secretary what is the cost to date of the Home Office Industrial Museum; the number of the staff employed; the total salaries paid to theca; and the number of persons that have visited the museum since it was opened?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe cost of the building, which was not erected by the Home Office, has amounted to about £20,000, of which over £17,000 was spent before the War. It has been met out of the sum provided under Section 9 of the Finance Act; 1908, for the erection of public buildings at Westminster. The sums expended from the Home Office Vote in the collection of the exhibits and for other purposes, amounted to £1,000 up to 1916, and £2,314 between 1921 and the 31st March last. Most of the exhibits have been loaned or presented. Three attendants are employed, and their weekly salaries amount to £8 12s. 1d. The number of visitors recorded from the beginning of December last up to 14th April is 4,016.
§ Mr. RAMSDENDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that this museum fulfils any useful purpose?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI not only think, I am absolutely satisfied that it fulfils a very useful purpose indeed. A large number of employers and trade union representatives have been and have expressed great satisfaction at seeing the latest methods of "safety first" in factories and other works.