§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps, if any, have been taken by the Government to give effect to the Treasury Minute of July 20th, 1888, on Perpetual Pensions?
§ MR. GOSCHENIt will be within the recollection of the hon. Member that the Government undertook that before 423 proposing any Perpetual Pension or payment for commutation the Treasury should take the opinion of the law officers in order to be advised whether each grant is legally binding, and whether it is permanently, or likely to be permanently so binding. A case of every grant has now been submitted to the law advisers of the Crown, and their opinion has been obtained in almost every instance. The preliminary examination as to the binding nature of each payment having been practically concluded, Her Majesty's Government will submit their proposals to Parliament at an early opportunity.