HC Deb 27 February 1888 vol 322 cc1494-5
MR. E. ROBERTSON (Dundee)

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the Government still adhere to the undertaking given by the Government of the day in 1885, not to propose any new grants to Members of the Royal Family until the whole subject has been considered by a Committee of this House?

THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)

As I do not apprehend it will be the duty of the Government to propose any new grants to Members of the Royal Family at any very early date, I think it inadvisable to enter into any engagement with the House with regard to what may possibly be remote contingencies; and I must refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to the answers I gave to him and to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Mid Lothian (Mr. W. E. Gladstone) last Monday with reference to the appointment of a Committee.

MR. E. ROBERTSON

asked, whether the House was to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's answer that the Government did not depart, and did not intend to depart, from the understanding given in 1885?

MR. W. H. SMITH

I have answered the Question already, both last Monday and to-day. I cannot vary my answer in the slightest degree.

MR. E. ROBERTSON

said, that his Question was, whether the Government still adhered to the understanding given by the Government of the day in 1885, not to propose any new grants to Members of the Royal Family until the whole subject had been considered by a Committee of that House?

MR. W. H. SMITH

I am not able to accept the view of the hon. and learned Gentleman that the Government of 1885 did enter into any such undertaking. But, whether that is so or not, I am not prepared to give any such undertaking with reference to what I believe to be remote contingencies. I have stated the course which the Government think it right to follow.