§ 2. Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the unofficial cleaning of the Elgin Marbles continued over 15 months; and what steps were taken to bring the methods employed to the notice of the director of the British Museum during that period?
§ The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Captain Crookshank)I am informed that the unauthorised cleaning took place at intervals for about 15 months prior to its discovery last September. As regards the latter part of the Question, I understand that no such steps were taken. The cleaning of material in the Museum is in the care of the keepers of the departments, who are required to issue necessary instructions and supervise the process. They are directly responsible for this work to the Trustees.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherCan the right hon. and gallant Gentleman state why it is that the Director of the Museum does not occupy the official residence in the Museum as his predecessors did? May it not be due to the fact that the Director does not reside in the Museum that the unofficial cleaning was not brought to his notice or escaped it?
§ Captain CrookshankAny question as regards where the Director lives must be put down, because I am not responsible for these matters. It is the Trustees of the Museum who are responsible. As I have explained, the responsibility in matters of this kind rests with the keepers of the departments, who are directly responsible to the Trustees. The Director himself does not come into it at all.
§ Mr. De ChairAre we to understand that the keeper of this department did not enter this department during the whole 15 months the cleaning was going on?
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherCan the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether the fact that two officials have recently retired from this department is merely a coincidence, or has it anything to do with this unofficial cleaning of the Elgin Marbles?
§ Captain CrookshankNo, Sir. I think that the Trustees with whom it rests did take action in the matter which had that result.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir A. Lambert WardIs it considered by the experts that any serious injury has been caused to these Marbles by this cleaning?
§ Captain CrookshankAll I can say about that is that if any damage has been done, it is completely imperceptible to ordinary people like ourselves, and I very much doubt whether it is very obvious to experts.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherMay I ask whether it would not be better if the keepers of the departments were responsible to the Director and the Director was responsible to the Trustees? Is not this organisation whereby the keepers of the departments are responsible to the Trustees, and not to the Director, very faulty?
§ Captain CrookshankThat may or may not be so, but it has nothing to do with me, and expressions of opinion on my part would be of no value. It is a matter for the Trustees.
§ Mr. Edmund HarveyMay I ask how the unauthorised cleaning took place? Who was responsible for it?