HC Deb 17 March 1890 vol 342 cc1027-8
*(5.35.) SIR J. PULESTON (Devonport)

As I find it would not be in order for me to move the Motion I have placed upon the Paper, namely— That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the subject of the Greenwich Hospital Funds and the payment of Greenwich pensions. I will merely ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Government are prepared to put the charges now made upon Greenwich Hospital Funds for Seamen's Reserved Pensions upon the Consolidated Fund? I hope the noble Lord will be able to give a satisfactory answer to this question.

*(5.36.) LORD G. HAMILTON

I can only speak again with permission of the House. This is rather an involved and complicated question. There has been a difference of opinion between the Treasury and the Admiralty for years as to whether certain charges should or should not be paid out of the funds of the Greenwich Hospital; the Treasury taking one view and the Admiralty another. We have to meet certain obligations and to make certain pensions to which certain pensioners are entitled, and to do this these are the only funds at our disposal; but I have been in communication with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer upon the subject, and I think it will perhaps be better if the right hon. Gentleman will briefly state his view of the question.

*(5.37.) THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN,) St. George's, Hanover Square

The matter is one which involves somewhat ancient history, because it goes back as far as the year 1876. At that time the Treasury informed the Admiralty that they must still place those pensions on the Greenwich Funds. They said they could see no reason for the transfer of those pensions to the Consolidated Fund so long as the Greenwich Hospital funds were not insufficient to meet the charge. I have examined into the funds of the Hospital to see how far they are sufficient to meet those charges; but through the reduction in the interest in Consols, and other matters, I see that the balance of income over expenditure is now extremely small. If it should appear, as I think it possible, in looking into the matter, that the charges on the Fund are such as almost to exceed the income, looking at the liabilities which may be placed upon them, in that case the Treasury would consent to transfer some of the pensions, namely, those payable to men between 50 and 55 to the Naval Fund, and so far to relieve the Hospital from that charge.

Question put, and agreed to.