§ SIR J. GOLDSMID (St. Pancras, S.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the fees paid to the Houses of Commons and Lords by promoters of Private Bills bring in a considerable 262 Revenue to the Treasury; if so, what the amount was last year; and further, whether he will consider the advisability of proposing to the House a reduction of the present scale?
§ *MR. JACKSONI am informed that the fees received on Private Bills in the House of Commons during the financial year 1889–90 amounted to about£24,800. The fees received in the House of Lords were probably about the same amount. It is not in contemplation to make any reduction in the present scale of fees.
§ *SIR J. GOLDSMIDWhat is the balance of profit to the Treasury on these fees?
§ *MR. JACKSONIt would be rather difficult to state accurately.
§ *SIR J. GOLDSMIDDoes the First Lord of the Treasury think it right that the expenses of the House of Commons should be paid by the promoters of Private Bills?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHI am afraid that the answer to that question requires consideration; but I do not think that Private Bill promoters are the most necessitous and deserving class of the community.