§ Mr. GRANTasked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that several specimens of metal work and embroidery have been withdrawn from their places in the permanent collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum and are now exhibited in the Loan Court; and, if so, when is such arrangement to be rectified?
§ Mr. FISHERThe replacement of the specimens in their former positions will be taken in hand so soon as the repair and renovation of the portions of the612W museum which were used by the Board of Education during the War have been completed.
§ Mr. GRANTasked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that a large proportion of the objects in the Loan Court of the Victoria and Albert Museum are merely duplicate specimens of similar objects in the museum's permanent collections; and if he can see his way to direct that there should be some limit to the Museum's acceptance of loans, with the view of avoiding redundancy and thus of retaining more space for the exhibition of the permanent collections?
§ Mr. FISHERI am not aware of such duplication, but if the hon. Member will furnish me with instances I will consider them. In considering offers of loans regard is always had to the points mentioned in the second part of the question.
§ Mr. GRANTasked the President of the Board of Education if any further monopolisation of space in the Victoria and Albert Museum is contemplated for temporary loan exhibitions; and, if so, can he direct that in future prior consideration shall be given to the proper exhibition and release from the present congested and disordered arrangement of much of the invaluable collections belonging to the nation?
§ Mr. FISHERI do not propose to extend to other parts of the Museum the special reservation which applies to the North Court. I am anxious that the arrangements for the exhibition of the permanent collections shall become normal as soon as possible.