§ Mr. MANDERasked the First Commissioner of Works whether the Government propose to adopt the recommendation in the Final Report of the Royal Commission on Museums and Galleries in favour of an active policy of excavations in this country; whether he will consider in this connection the amount of work that would be at once provided for the unemployed and the additional attraction for visitors from abroad; and whether, in this connection, he will give due weight to the claims of the buried Roman city of Uriconium?
§ Mr. LANSBURYI would point out to the hon. Member that the recommendation in the Report is that the British Museum should pursue an active policy of excavations in this country. This is a matter for the trustees. So far as my Department is concerned, it can only deal with the sites actually in its charge, of which Uriconium is not one. My Department has, during the present winter season, put in hand an extensive scheme of excavations at monuments in its 349W charge, with the object of giving some extra employment, with consequent improvement to the monuments.