HC Deb 13 June 1910 vol 17 cc1040-1
Mr. GIBSON BOWLES

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the fact reported in the third Report for this year of the Committee of Public Accounts, that there had been expended on 28th February, 1909, on old age pensions the sum of £69,531 l1s. 9d. in excess of the sum at that time voted by Parliament, and that this excess was defrayed out of moneys in the hands of the Postmaster-General; will he state out of what particular moneys the expenditure was defrayed, by whose direction it was thus defrayed, and whether by Treasury order; whether any, and, if so, what notice has been taken of the conduct of those responsible for this illegal act; and whether he will inform the House of the security there is that similar or other illegal acts shall not be committed with impunity by officers in high authority either at the Treasury, at the Post Office, or elsewhere in the public service?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Lloyd George)

The sum of £69,531 11s. 9d. referred to in the question represents the amount by which the orders on account of old age pensions cashed by postmasters throughout the United Kingdom out of their general balances up to 28th February, 1909, inclusive, exceeded the then available balance of the Vote for old age pensions. Against this excess there was available on the Civil Contingencies Fund on that date a balance of £65,114, leaving £4,417 11s. 9d. uncovered. The Treasury were aware that if the whole of the pension orders due on 24th February were presented before a further Grant was available there would be an excess on the Vote, but, having regard to the fact that any uncovered excess was likely to be of small amount—an anticipation which, as I have explained, was justified by the event—and that it was the clear intention of the House by the original Grant to provide for the continuance of the pensions to the end of the financial year, did not feel justified in directing that payment of the orders falling due on 24th February should be refused. The responsibility for the course taken rests with His Majesty's Government.