§ MR. BAYLEYI beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state how many political pensions of £2,000 a year, £1,200 a year, and £800 a year, respectively, have been granted for life under the 32 and 33 Vic, c. 60, and the 4 and 5 Will. IV., c. 24, to persons still living; whether he will give the names of the present pensioners, and the date of the grant of their pensions; and whether, having regard to the terms of the statute under which these pensions are granted, it is the practice of the Treasury to require a pensioner to renounce his pension when his income from private or official sources ceases to be inadequate to maintain his station in life.
§ *SIR M. HICKS BEACHThe hon. Member will find all the particulars he desires in the Return presented to the House on June 13, 1898, No. 235 of 1898, and in the last Finance Accounts, Paper No. 258 of last session. It has been the practice for the last fifteen years to require the recipient of a political pension to give an undertaking that if subsequent to the grant of the pension he receives an accession of fortune he should resign his pension.
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)May I ask why the name of Lord Cross appears as the recipient of a pension, seeing that he continues to hold office?
§ *SIR M. HICKS BEACHFor the obvious reason that it is an office without pay.