§ 33. Sir HARRY BRITTAINasked the Finnacial Secretary to the Treasury whether any steps can be taken to inform provincial art galleries and museums as to what art treasures the National Gallery, the Tate Gallery, and the British Museum have to lend to them if proper application he made in the interests of education?
§ Captain BOWYER (Lord of the Treasury)So far as the Tate Gallery is concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for the Devonport Division (Mr. Hore-Belisha) on 28th February last. The statements there made apply also to the National Gallery. Communications between those Galleries and provincial Galleries are constant, and the latter can always obtain a list of pictures available for loan. The British Museum sent a circular a few days ago to all provincial museums about loan facilities, and are now taking special steps to draw their attention to the matter again.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINI thank the hon. and gallant Member for his answer, and would ask him if it is not the fact that up till now, at any rate, the facilities offered by South Kensington have been known and appreciated throughout the country, and have been of immense benefit to provincial museums and art galleries, but that the facilities offered by the British Museum, the Tate Gallery and the National Gallery have been entirely unknown?