§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether all perpetual pensions have now been commuted; and, if not, how many and which of them remain uncommuted, and why; what is the total amount paid for the commutation of such pensions, and the total annual vale of those not yet commuted; and in what cases have payments been made, and to what amount, in respect of annual sums granted to meet specified expenses and outgoings on the part of the pensioner, which expenses and outgoings had for some time ceased, and the allowance for which had still been paid to the pensioner?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir W. HARCOURT,) DerbyAll the pensions have not been commuted. Those which were not commuted 418 in 1887 are set forth in the Report of the Select Committee of that year. Since then, three pensions have been commuted—namely, the Duke of St. Alban's, Lord Downshire's and Lord Exmouth's. The Minute relating to these cases was laid on the Table in July, 1890. No further commutation has been effected. Negotiations have taken place in some cases, which have fallen through. In the case of Lord Rodney, the Court disallowed the terms agreed to —namely, 27 years' purchase. A Minute relating to this case was presented last year. The amount paid for commutation appears in the Parliamentary Returns. The annual value of the remaining pensions is about £8,500. The last part of the question seems only to apply to the cases of the Duke of St. Albans, as Master of Hawks, and Lord Downshire, the particulars of which will be found in the Minute presented to Parliament.
§ MR. HANBURYDo these particulars give details showing what was paid for the actual pension and what was paid for the outgoings and special expenses to which I refer in my question? Do they give these items separately.
SIR W.HARCOURTI do not know. I will inquire, and try and get any further information the hon. Member may desire.