§ LORD ISLINGTON rose to ask His Majesty's Office of Works in how many weeks or months the Exhibition Galleries of the Imperial Institute will be vacated by the clerical stalls of the Effects Branch of the War Office and of the Machine Gun Corps, in order that the exhibits of the resources of the Colonies, now stored in private houses in South Kensington, may again be available for commercial and public use.
§ The noble Lord said: My Lords, I desire very briefly to supplement the Question that I have placed upon the Paper, because I wish to express the hope that my noble friend who answers for the Office of Works will be able to give a definite and quite clear answer. I also desire to explain to your Lordships that the continued occupation by the clerical staffs of the War Office of these important and large Exhibition Galleries of the Imperial Institute is not only causing serious inconvenience to the administrative work of the Institute but is increasingly conducing towards commercial injury to Imperial interests. As my Question shows, the space in those galleries which are now occupied by these two staffs has necessitated the removal of very important collections of Colonial exhibits, which at this time are of the greatest possible importance in trade interests and in educational interests for future trade in the metropolis.
891§ The exhibits are at present stored in three houses close to the Imperial Institute and are in cases, and therefore cannot render the use that they would were they in the galleries. It would appear, unless there is some good reason of which I do not know, that the very houses which are now accommodating these exhibits might well accommodate the staff that is now in occupation of the Imperial Institute. It has been said, I believe, by the authorities when the question has been put to them that the galleries at no distant period of time will be again available for the Institute, but that this cannot take place until other accommodation has been found. I believe it is suggested that buildings are to be erected in the suburbs for the accommodation of these staffs. I am, of course, asking now for the accommodation of the Institute, but I am bound to say (and I am sure your Lordships Will share the feeling) that I hear with considerable concern that more buildings are going to be erected for clerical staffs, and I hope an opportunity will be given at an early date for the public to be fully informed on this additional expenditure and full justification given for it.
§ I urgently put this Question in the interests of the Imperial Institute, because it was very definitely undertaken by the Minister in charge of the Office of Works that directly the emergencies of the war were concluded these places in the galleries would once more be returned to the Institute. Now many months have passed and we are still without that space, and at present no definite undertaking is given for an early occupation. I hope that my noble friend who is charged with answering questions for this Office will be able to give one a precise answer, and one which will reassure those interested in the Imperial institute that these spaces will at an early date be once more returned to their proper purpose.
§ LORD STANMOREMy Lords, I regret to say that it is quite impossible for me to give a definite date by which time the Exhibition Galleries at the Imperial Institute can be vacated by the War Office staffs. These galleries are at present occupied by 1,092 clerks of the War Office Effects Branch and by 350 clerks of the Machine Gun Corps Pay Office; these 350 clerks are part of a. total staff of 1,700 who are accommodated in this neighbourhood. Possibly some relief may be 892 given in three months' time, when some portion of the butting now being erected at Neasden will be completed. I hope that it will be possible to move the 350 clerks of the Machine Gun Corps Staff from the galleries.
My noble friend suggested that it might be possible for the houses in which the exhibits are at present being taken care of to be used for the purposes of the staff, but in the case of the War Office Effects Staff it must be of great importance that the whole of the staff should be in one building—it must greatly expedite the work. The House is aware that the First Commissioner of Works is doing everything possible to secure the release, not only of the Imperial Institute, but of the other Museums and Galleries at the very earliest possible date. If it is found possible to carry into effect the scheme which the First Commissioner has prepared it is confidently hoped that the Imperial Institute buildings will be vacated within six months.
§ VISCOUNT HARCOURTMy Lords, it is not intended as any reflection on my noble friend opposite if I rise to say that I consider the statement he has made to-day profoundly unsatisfactory and even alarming to those who have the interest of the Imperial institute and other museums at heart. There is really no activity being shown in clearing out these redundant staffs from buildings which are extremely necessary for other and vital purposes. I know very well that there is no hope. It is admitted, indeed, by the Office for whom my noble friend replies that no relief can be given to the Imperial Institute for at least six months—until new buildings (which are alarming in themselves) are raised in the suburbs.
There is only one cure for this. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet, if there is such a thing to-day, should give definite instructions to these inflated Departments that within a few weeks their staffs must be reduced by 25 per cent., and that within three months they must be reduced by 50 or 75 per cent. Such an order from the Cabinet might possibly be obeyed; if the Cabinet cannot obtain obedience to their orders they must find other methods for governing the country. Until strong measures are taken with these inflated Departments, whose natural inclination and anxiety is to remain like limpets on 893 the soil they occupy, there is no hope for this country of getting rid of the swollen bureaucracy under which we are suffering.