§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYIf there are no more questions about public business, perhaps the House 280 will allow me to make a statement upon another matter. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge has declined to allow the proposal for a pension in respect of his services as Commander-in-Chief to be submitted to the House. ["Hear, hear!"] Had this recognition of his labours—extending over a period of nearly 40 years in one of the highest offices of the State—been unanimously offered, it would have been gladly accepted. But the announcement of the late Secretary of State for War, speaking from the Front Opposition Bench, that he intended to oppose it, made such a result impossible, and His Royal Highness is not inclined to allow his personal claims—however legitimate—to become the subject of Party controversy. [Cheers.] Under those circumstances, the Duke, who held the position of Commander-in-Chief from 1856 to 1895, retires with precisely the same income from public sources as he would have had had he never occupied that office.
§ MR. DALZIELasked whether His Royal Highness continued to receive £12,000 a year, and whether he had not already received £900,000? [Cries of "Order!"]
§ SIR HENRY CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN (Stirling Burghs)I cannot understand whether the statement which the right hon. Gentleman read was the expression of opinion of Her Majesty's Government or of His Royal Highness, because, until quite recently, I have been of opinion—an opinion based upon the statements made by the right hon. Gentleman himself — that Her Majesty's Government took the same view as I did of the question. [Cheers.]
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI do not know that I need repeat what I have formerly stated to the House. The course which the Government have taken has been perfectly open and aboveboard in this matter, and all the statements which I have made on this subject in the last and in the present Session are before the House. [Cheers.]