§ MR. SUMMERS (Huddersfield)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he will take into consideration the advisability of requiring from all future recipients of literary pensions an assurance, similar to that obtained by the right hon. Member for Mid Lothian (Mr. W. E. Gladstone) from certain political pensioners, that in case they should receive a considerable addition to their incomes they will cease thereafter to draw their pensions?
§ MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)asked, whether, in the event of the reply of the right hon. Gentleman being in the affirmative with regard to these small allowances, it would be possible to carry out the same arrangement in the case of statutory allowances to ex-Cabinet Ministers?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)I think the answer will cover that ground also. The Act (1 Vict. c. 2), under which Civil List pensions are granted, gives no power to the Government to demand from recipients the assurance suggested by the hon. Member. These pensions, which are not largely literary, are, for the most part, granted to those who, in addition to other claims on the nation, are in urgent need of such assistance; and in the Annual Return made to this House of pensions granted during the year a statement to that effect is made. The pensions being given on these grounds, I think the question of their surrender on accession of wealth may be left, as in the case of the political pensions alluded to, to the honour of the recipients.