§ MR. BRADLAUGHasked the Secretary to the Treasury, If the four sums heretofore annually voted by this House to the heirs of Sir Thomas Clarges, to the Duchy of Lancaster, to the Duke of Rutland, and to the Duke of Norfolk respectively, have been, since 1st January 1881, commuted as if permanent charges, and on the same basis as pensions in perpetuity authorised by statute; and, if so, under what authority?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. H. H. FOWLER)The four sums referred to by the hon. Member have been commuted since January 1, 1881, under the authority of the Acts 36 & 37 Vict. c. 57, and 46 Vict. c. 1, Consolidated Fund (Permanent Charges Redemption) Acts, 1873 and 1883, by which the Treasury is authorized to contract for the redemption of any annuity, as defined in those Acts, charged on or payable out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom, or moneys provided by Parliament either in perpetuity or for a peiod not determinable with the life of the individual to whom the same is for the time being payable. The redemptions were made on the same basis as the redemption of other permanent charges under the Acts to which I have referred.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHasked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether he will lay upon the Table a Copy of the declaration of trust actually executed by the 1379 First Lord of the Treasury and Sir Charles Mills, baronet, as to lands purchased prior to the present reign, out of a sum of £633,333 6s. 9d. invested to secure the perpetual annual payment of £19,000 to the Duke of Richmond; and, whether he will also lay upon the Table Copies of any other declarations of trust executed as to other lands subsequently purchased out of the same moneys?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. H. H. FOWLER)I can hardly answer this Question without a word or two of explanation. The original pension to the Duke of Richmond was granted by Charles II. [Cries of "What for?"] A duty of 1s.] per chaldron on coals exported from the Tyne and consumed in England was granted under Letters Patent of December 18, 1676, to the Duke of Richmond. This pension was commuted into an annuity of £19,000, charged on the Consolidated Fund from July 5, 1799, under the Acts 39 Geo. III. c. 3, and 39 & 40 Geo. III. c. 143. The annuity was commuted under provisions in those Acts for a sum of £490,833 11s. 6d., which sum was invested in the purchase of £633,333 6s. 9d. Consols. By the Act 39 & 40 Geo. III., c. 103, a portion (£485,434 4s. 7d.) of this Stock was sold and invested in land, and by the Act 1 Vict. c. 34, power was given to sell the balance of Stock remaining and to invest it in land. The commutation money and the lands in the purchase of which it has been laid out were vested in Trustees, of whom the First Lord of the Treasury is one. The present Trustees are the First Lord of the Treasury for the time being and Lord Hillingdon. The lands purchased under the above-mentioned Acts will revert to the Crown in default of male issue of the first Duke of Richmond. I have not been able to obtain the declarations of trust referred to in the Question; but I may point out that as regards the estates purchased before the Act 1 Vict. c. 34, the form of declaration to be made by the Trustees is prescribed in the second Schedule to the Act.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHWill the hon. Gentleman give the House the date and the names of the Trustees in the document as executed? The draft of the declaration is there, but I have been unable to see the declaration itself.
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERIf my hon. Friend will put down a Question embodying the details he wants, I will endeavour to accede to his request.
§ MR. LABOUCHERECan the hon. Gentleman state to the House for what services these pensions were granted?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERThat Question, I think, ought to have been asked of the Secretary to the Treasury in the year 1676.