§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether the grant to the Soane Museum recently announced in another place will be made conditional on the transfer of the Hogarth pictures to another gallery, or their re-hanging if possible in the Soane Museum in such a way that they may be visible.]
871LORD PAKENHAMMy Lords, no condition is attached to the grant-in-aid made to the Trustees of the Soane Museum. The Private Act of 1833, under which Sir John Soane instituted the Museum, provides that the contents of the house shall remain as they were placed in his lifetime. The transfer or re-hanging of the Hogarth pictures is therefore not possible, but improvements in the lighting are under consideration.
LORD FARINGDONMay I ask whether in future His Majesty's Government will make grants of public monies dependent on the efficient performance of the business or the task which the trustees in this case or any similar cases may have undertaken?
LORD PAKENHAMI will lay that suggestion before my right honourable friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, but I cannot accept for one moment that there has been any inefficiency on this occasion.