§ 27. Sir ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUELasked the First Commissioner of Works whether the main building of St. John's Lodge, Regent's Park, now unoccupied, could be used as a museum or exhibition building for modern sculpture, statuary, and decorative metal work by British craftsmen?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIf a body with the necessary financial backing and authority came forward with a suitable proposal of this description, I should be glad to consider it.
§ Sir A. M. SAMUELWill my right hon. Friend take this opportunity of inviting the local authorities to send exhibts from their arts and crafts schools, so as to help forward the Art and Industry Movement That would certainly assist the finances.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI would like to point out that I have drawn public attention by answers in this House to the fact that the house is available for suitable museum purposes, and that it will require a considerable sum of money to be spent on it if it is to be used for such a purpose. It is now an ordinary private house, and the lighting of the rooms, etc., will require to be completely altered before it can be made suitable for public exhibitions.
§ Sir A. M. SAMUELWhy not ask the London County Council, which is very public-spirited in these matters of arts and crafts, to send their exhibits there?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MOORECan the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that this lovely building will not be pulled down, but that some suitable purpose will be found for it?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREWe have had it on our hands for some time. I admit 733 that the outside has some considerable architectural merit, but the inside is in a very bad condition and would require a considerable sum of money spent on it. I am quite willing to receive any representations from any museum or any local authority which desires to use the building for exhibition purposes. As I have stated, plenty of publicity has been given by the series of questions in this House and I cannot do more.