§ Mr. GRANTasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that, in addition to the North Court of the Victoria and Albert Museum, which is stated to be allocated for loan exhibitions, there is another large court in the western end of the museum which is overcrowded with an unclassified considerable collec- 37W tion of miscellaneous objects on loan from several owners; and, if so, are both courts to be maintained for loan exhibitions, notwithstanding the cramped condition, for instance, of the very important gold and silver and other metal work section of the museum's permanent collection?
§ Mr. FISHERThe Court to which the hon. Member refers, known as the Loan Court, has been reserved since its opening for the reception of temporary loans. A system of classification has been adopted for the objects in this Court, and has been adhered to so far as the exigencies of the War and other circumstances have permitted. The North Court is intended for special temporary exhibitions.
§ Mr. GRANTasked the President of the Board of Education whether the lunettes and panels painted by Various British artists about 50 years ago for rooms 101 to 106 in the Victoria and Albert Museum, and removed in 1912, have been restored to their places in those galleries; and, if not, when are they likely to be in accordance with the reply of the President of the Board of Education to Question No. 8 on the 11th December, 1912?
§ Mr. FISHERThe lunettes and panels in question were replaced in their original positions about nine years ago. They were removed a few days ago to allow of the repair and repainting of the Galleries. When the work of renovation has been completed they will be replaced.
§ Mr. GRANTasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the old decorations of the ceiling and its adjoining portions in the galleries of the Victoria and Albert Museum allocated in 1912 to the Jones Collection were repaired about 1914, so that they should be seen when the galleries were re-opened to the public; whether the redecoration of those galleries and their special adaptation which are now in progress for the Jones Collection will interfere with the inspection of the old ceiling decorations; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take, in view of the answer given by the President of the Board of Education on 5th May, 1914?
§ Mr. FISHERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative.38W In the exhibition of the Jones Collection the effect of any arrangements on the view of the ceiling decorations of the room will be taken into consideration.