§ Sir J. GRANTasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the neglected condition, externally and internally, of the block of architecture erected by the Government over 50 years ago in the Exhibition Road for a normal school of science; and, if so, pending a decision as to its future use, will he consider the advisability of taking steps to arrest further consequences of the neglect in question?
§ Sir V. HENDERSONI have been asked to reply to this question, as it is believed that the building referred to is that on the cast side of Exhibition Road, occupied by a section of the Imperial College of Science. My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension in believing it to be in a neglected condition. The Office of Works are responsible for its external and structural maintenance, and in those respects the building is in sound condition, except as regards the decorative terra cotta dressings. These have suffered from the action of the weather, and inquiries are at present being made as to the best way of dealing with them. Responsibility for internal decorative maintenance lies with the authorities of the college who, it is understood, propose to carry out re-decoration during the coming vacation.