HC Deb 17 February 1832 vol 10 cc509-10
Lord Althorp

moved "that 195,000l. be granted to provide for the payment of certain salaries, allowances, pensions, &c., heretofore paid out of the Civil List of Great Britain and Ireland, the hereditary revenues of Scotland, and the four-and-a-half per cent, duty on sugars, but for which no provision had been made in the Civil List granted to his present Majesty." He staled, that he had hoped it would have been in his power before this to have brought in a specific Bill for the regulating the payment of the charges included in this vote, but considerable delay had been created by inquiries made at the recommendation of a Committee which had sat upon the subject relating to certain payments. This circumstance, added to the pressure of other business, hitherto, had prevented him from doing so, and, therefore, he was under the necessity of asking for this grant on account. He hoped, before the expiration of the quarter, to be able to bring in a Bill upon the subject.

Mr. Hume

begged to be informed, whether this vote contained the exact amount of the estimates, without any deductions that might have been recommended by the Committee.

Lord Althorp

said, the sum required was according to the Resolutions of the Committee, subject to inquiries relating to certain payments.

Mr. Hume

understood, from that reply, that no deductions had actually been made.

Mr. Spring Rice

said, there had actually been a reduction of 4,799l. in the whole expense, which had been saved under the head of pensions; 3,755l. of which had expired; and 1,044l. had been surrendered by the parties entitled thereto.

Mr. Goulburn

said, he was happy that this vote was proposed, for the Crown was entitled to receive it on account of having surrendered the hereditary revenues at the accession, and this was a tardy acknowledgment of the gracious act, although the House, when it was announced, pledged itself to make a permanent provision to supply the deficiency, yet nearly two Sessions had passed, and the pledge had not been redeemed. He gave full weight to the cause which the noble Lord had assigned for this delay—namely, pressure of business, but he gave no weight to the minor grounds of inquiry making at the Treasury relating to some of the payments.

Resolution agreed to, and the House resumed.