§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary to the Treasury what requests have been received by him, and from whom, for the return to Dublin by the National Gallery and the Tate Gallery of the pictures included in the Sir Hugh Lane bequest; and what reply was sent in each case.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI have received several private inquiries from hon. Members and others concerning the possibility of arranging a loan of these pictures to a gallery in Dublin. I have replied that the initiative in this matter rests with the appropriate quarters in Dublin, and that the lending of pictures is within the responsibility of the trustees of the galleries.
It has also been suggested in a letter from the hon. Member that legislation be introduced to transfer ownership of the pictures to the Dublin Gallery. I have 94W replied that the question of ownership was thoroughly examined by the special Committee of the House, representing all three parties, in 1926, and that, on each occasion since then that the matter has been debated, the consensus of opinion has endorsed the findings of that Committee.