§ LORD LAMINGTONMy Lords, I desire, having given private notice, to ask the noble Marquess, whether he can state with whom rests the choice of site for the National Portrait Gallery which is to be erected by the munificence of a private donor, as announced by the noble Marquess on Saturday? Will the selection of the site lie with the Trustees of the National Gallery, or with others? Without saying a word 1194 in depreciation of the munificence of the donor, I think it is not quite dignified on the part of a great country like this that it should be dependent for such a building on private generosity.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (The Marquess of SALISBURY)It is very difficult for me to answer such a question as that which is put to me off-hand, and my impression that it would be more fitting if the question were put to the representative of the Office of Works, who could state exactly the conditions imposed by the donor. Matters have not advanced far enough as yet to enable me to give the noble Lord all the details he appears to desire, but if he will put a question on the Paper no doubt further information will be forthcoming.