§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether the Treasury minute of 15th February 1839 (directing that, from the 5th April 1841, the sum of £630 14s. 2d. should be deducted from the annual amount of £16,216 15s. 1½d. paid to the Duchy of Cornwall), was not laid before both Houses of Parliament on the 19th April 1839, pursuant to 1 and 2 Vic. c. 120, ss. 6 and 7; whether by s. 6 of the said statute the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury were directed to grant such compensation as seemed to them just and proper, and by s. 7 to lay before Parliament a return showing the amount of the compensation so granted by them; whether the Treasury minute of 15th February 1839 was ever formally revised and at what date; whether such revision was ever communicated to Parliament on that occasion; and, whether he will lay upon the Table a Copy of the objections taken on behalf of the Duchy of Cornwall to such annual deduction of £630 14s. 2d. and a copy of the Treasury minute on such deductions?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASTURY (Mr. HENRY H. FOWLER) (Wolverhampton, E.)The Treasury Minute of the 15th of February, 1839, was laid before both Houses of Parliament on the 19th of April, 1839, under the Act 1 & 2 Vict. c. 120, s. 7. The compensation referred to in Section 6 of the Act is 33 compensation to officers whose emoluments were affected by the operation of the Act, but does not affect the payment to be made to the Duchy of Cornwall. The Minute was never formally revised; but, as I stated last night, the Treasury acquiesced in the view taken by the Council of the Duchy of Cornwall, and have acted accordingly during the last 45 years.