§ MR. HOWORTH (Salford, S.)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether a Member of the House of Commons, before he is entitled to receive a Ministerial pension, has to make a solemn declaration to the effect that his means are otherwise insufficient to maintain his position; and, whether such a declaration has been made by every Member now in receipt of such a pension?
THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)Every Member receiving a Ministerial pension has to make a declaration as to the insufficiency of his means; and every Member of this House now in receipt of such a pension has so declared.
§ MR.LABOUCHERE (Northampton)Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to state whether it is left to the 607 ex-Minister to form his own conclusions as to what means are sufficient to maintain his position; or whether there is an average estimate made by the Treasury?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHThe hon. Gentleman asks me a Question which, as I have had very little experience in the matter, is, perhaps, hardly a fair one. But I should have very little doubt that, if it was left to an ex-Minister to make a statement of this kind, such a statement might be received with perfect confidence.
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONE (Edinburgh, Mid Lothian)The Question is not put to me; but as I have had several cases during a number of years in which I have had to administer this difficult law, I may say that, when I have been Prime Minister, I have always considered the declaration of the person who was to be the holder of the pension as a declaration expressing his own conscientious and honourable view, although, at the same time, it would be that of the known party interested. I never considered, however, that that declaration exempted the Prime Minister from the duty of forming his own estimate; and I have felt myself undoubtedly responsible for every pension of this description I have sanctioned.
§ MR. JENNINGS (Stockport)I should like to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, whether, if it was well-known that an ox-Minister had received a considerable accession to his income after the pension had been received, would it then be the duty of the recipient to give the pension up?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHI think it is undesirable to answer Questions of this character. It is a matter in which the honour of the Minister himself is concerned; and I have no doubt whatever that any Minister or ex-Minister who received a considerable and permanent addition to his income would resign his pension.
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEI refer to a lengthened experience; and I may say that in two instances, I think, in which pensions were given by my advice I obtained from the receivers an engagement to the effect that, in the event of an accession to their fortune, they would surrender the pension. I believe such a ease has been forgotten.
§ MR. W. H. SMITHWill the House allow me to state the most recent 608 instance—I believe it is the only one to my knowledge—that the Duke of Rutland, who was allotted a pension of this character some time ago, resigned it on his accession to the Dukedom.