§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether it is the fact that in the case of two out of the six pensioners still returned in the Finance Accounts as "Persons formerly on the Civil List of His Majesty George III.," the pensions have been continued 1246 after their death, one pensioner having died on April 16, 1885, and the other on March 6, 1887; and, what is the system of control in regard to pensions at the Treasury which makes such over-payments possible?
§ THE SECRETARY (Mr. JACKSON) (Leeds, N.)No such over-payments have been made; and I am satisfied that the Regulations in force make it impossible that they should occur. The hon. Member has confused an issue from the Exchequer to meet a charge on the Consolidated Fund with a payment by the Paymaster General from the money so issued. I would refer him to the explanation which I gave him on this subject on the 28th of February last; and to the note in the Finance Accounts that the amount over-issued from the Exchequer, in respect to the two pensions referred to, will be repaid.
§ MR. HANBURYasked, how it happened, if the Paymaster General had repaid the amount into the Exchequer in 1885, that the Exchequer had continued to issue it for three years afterwards?
§ MR. JACKSONIt is somewhat difficult to make this matter clear to the hon. Gentleman. The Comptroller of Audits has satisfied himself that no such payment has been made. It is quite possible that the issue might he made, and necessarily made, because the death of the pensioner was not known; and until his death became known, the amount, of course, would be paid to the Paymaster.
§ MR. HANBURYIs not that exactly my point? What evidence is there that the pensioners are alive?
§ MR. JACKSONIn every case where a pension is applied for, a life certificate must be produced.