§ THE EARL OF RAVENSWORTHasked Her Majesty's Government whether it was any portion of the instruction to the recently appointed Treasury Committee on the Science Collections at the South Kensington Museum to disperse, remove, or in any way reduce the collection illustrative of "Naval Architecture"; and whether, if the Committee report in favour of such a course, an opportunity would be given to Parliament of expressing its opinion before any action is taken in the matter?
§ VISCOUNT CRANBROOK: My Lords ,the question which the noble Lord has placed on the Paper is much in the form of one asked by him about two years ago. There is no doubt that the subject is an important one, and that great interest is felt in this collection of naval models. It is a remarkably curious and exceedingly valuable one. I can only say with respect to the question of removal, that there is a Departmental. Committee appointed for the purpose of inquiry into the science collections at South Kensington, though not with any special reference to the Naval Museum. No intimation has been received by me of any intention to remove the collection. The Departmental Committee is now inquiring into the question of the science collection altogether, but not specially 1059 with reference to the collection of naval models. I can promise my noble Friend that no removal will take place without Parliament having an opportunity to discuss the matter.