HC Deb 02 May 1821 vol 5 cc488-9

On the motion, "That the order of the day, for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of Supply be now read,"

Mr. Hume,

after a few observations, proceeded to read to the House an extract from the sixth report of the Finance Committee, in which the committee recommended, that an inquiry should be instituted in the superannuation allowances, in order to find out those which ought to be continued, or abolished. The hon. member pointed out several instances of persons receiving superannuation allowances to the amount of 200l., 300l., 400l., and 500l. a-year, and who, at the same time, held situations of several hundreds, nay, in some instances, thousands a-year; and concluded by moving, as an amendment, "That as there are individuals in the List of Super annuations and Retired Al- lowances, who receive large sums for services of a few years, and who are at this time in perfect health, and performing duty in lucrative employments, it is expedient that this House, before granting any of the superannuated or retired allowances for this year, should appoint a Committee of this House, conformable to the recommendation of the Finance Committee of 1817, in their Sixth Report in the following terms: — 'Where the sum has been granted as a Superannuation Allowance to a person who nevertheless had health and strength afterwards to hold other active and lucrative situations, your Committee feel that the public have an undoubted right to revise the whole of such grants, and to curtail and modify them in a way which may answer to the intentions which would have influenced the original granters, if the whole case had been fairly before them; your Committee, therefore, feel it to be their indispensable duty to recommend, that such revision should take place before the annual estimates, in which the grants alluded to are comprised, are again presented to parliament."

Lord Palmerston,

in answer to the hon. member, read an extract from a ministerial circular, of July 1817, in which it was ordered, that no person upon the superannuation list should hold an appointment greater in emolument than that from which he had been superannuated, without being deprived of the difference between such situation and that which such person had formerly held.

The Marquis of Londonderry

observed, that there was at this moment under the consideration of government a measure for lessening the scale of superannuation allowances, with respect to persons who held public offices.

After a short conversation, the House divided: For the Original Motion, 63; For the Amendment, 22: Majority, 41.

List of the Minority.
Baillie, col. J. Hutchinson, hon. C.
Bright, H. Maxwell, J.
Bernal, R. Monck, J. B.
Birch, J. O'Grady, S.
Cavendish, hon. H. Rice, S.
Chaloner, R. Smith, R.
Creevey, Thos. Wilson, sir R.
Davies, col. Wood, alderman
Evans, W. Wyvill, M.
Farrand, R. TELLERS.
Graham, S. Hume, Jos.
Hamilton, lord A. Bennet, hon. H. G.
Harbord, hon. E.