§ Viscount SANDONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why some of the rooms in the National Portrait Gallery are closed to the public; and when they are to be re-opened?
Mr. SAMUELTo facilitate public inspection and appreciation of national portraits, the more important portraits are now grouped together in rooms through which visitors can most readily circulate. A special room, convenient for easy access and circulation, has been set aside for new acquisitions. This room has met with general appreciation. Portraits of secondary importance, which are mainly of interest for reference purposes, are grouped together in reference rooms. As these rooms, pending the erection of the new building which is to be provided by the generosity of Sir J. Duveen, are overcrowded with portraits, they are reserved for the use of visitors who apply to an attendant to be allowed to inspect portraits which are hung there. These arrangements have been made for the convenience of the public. It is hoped that they will be found generally satisfactory, having regard to all the circumstances.