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interested in addition to the contributions already made by those Governments to the Institute.

The Board of Trade do not desire to express any final opinion as to the merits of the suggestion, referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Colonial Office letter, for the absorption of the Scientific and Technical Department in an Imperial University at South Kensington, as they are not at present in possession of any precise details of the proposal.

They consider, however, that any scheme of this kind would need most careful examination in order to ensure, not only the maintenance and development of the existing scientific work on a sound and practical basis, but also the continued confidence of the Colonial Governments in the management of the Department. The Board have some reason to believe that these Governments would not in all cases view without apprehension the transfer of the control of this work from a Government Department to an Institution whose main objects would be educational, and they would point out that any loss of confidence on the part of these Governments would be fatal to the usefulness of the work.

The Board therefore desire to suggest, for the consideration of the Lords of the. Treasury, that in the event of any scheme being adopted which would involve the allocation of the whole of the Imperial Institute building to the proposed Imperial University, it would be desirable to consider whether, as an alternative course to the absorption of the work of the Scientific and Technical Department in the pro- posed Institution, it might not be preferable that this Department, and any other branches of work of the Imperial Institute which are closely connected therewith, should be removed from the present building to another building on receipt of a suitable payment in compensation for the value of the lease held by the Imperial Institute from the Office of Works, the present management not being interfered with.

Pending the settlement of these questions, however, the financial situation of the Imperial Institute is very precarious, and the Board would urge that, whatever course may ultimately be decided upon, it is highly important that the work should be adequately supported in the meantime. the Commissioners of the Exhibition of 1851, the expenditure on account of the Since the cessation of the grant from Scientific and Technical Department has been met by drawing on the balance of the funds of the Institute, but this, of course, cannot continue.

As the Board have been unable to induce the Commissioners of the 1851 Exhibi- tion to continue their contribution, they earnestly trust that the present application of the Colonial Office will receive favourable and prompt response.

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No. 6.

QUESTION AND ANSWER IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

MR. LAIDLAW (Renfrewshire, E.) asked the First Commissioner of Works

House of Commons, June 13, 1906. whether, as stated in the Treasury letter of Sir Francis Mowatt to the Under Secretary of State for India, published at page 58 of House of Commons [Cd. No. 268], of Session 1900, the cost of the repair, upkeep, and decoration of the Imperial Institute Buildings, of maintaining the heating apparatus, and of defraying rates falls upon the Office of Works, with the exception that the cost of repairs, decora- tion, and lighting of the Indian section, or some parts thereof, revenues; and whether he would give a return showing full particulars of the total met from Indian cost from the date of transfer of the Institute to the present time of all repairs, alterations, and other expenses incurred by the Office of Works, distinguishing, as far as possible, the proportion of the cost incurred for the London University and the Imperial Institute sections of the buildings during the period the University has been accommodated there?

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