§ Mr. BOWERMANasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that the trustees of the National Portrait Gallery purpose commemorating, by a series of 2135W permanent photographs, the features of distinguished living contemporaries of British nationality, including all persons, naval, military or civilian, who, during the War, have rendered service to their country by their valour or by the promotion of the Empire welfare; whether he is aware that for this purpose the trustees have given one firm of photographers a monopoly; and whether, in view of the national character of the proposed memorial, the trustees will consider the desirability of including photographs other than those to be taken by the firm so chosen?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; to the second, that the employment of a particular firm for this purpose is not a monoply, since photographs by other photographers are accepted under certain conditions; and to the third, that the trustees have always accepted photographs taken by any photographer of persons living or deceased who have the slightest claim to distinction in any sphere of life. In no circumstances are photographs taken from life exhibited in the Galleries; they are acquired solely for reference purposes.