§ MR. KEARLEYI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he can state the proposals which the Government have promised to make for the dissolution of the Royal Patriotic Commission and for transferring the administration of the various funds now vested in the Commissioners to the Navy and Military Pension Board, as recommended unanimously by the Joint Select Committee of the Lords and Commons last session.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe plan which I think would be the best to adopt with regard to the matter in which the hon. Gentleman has shown himself persistently so much interested would be to frame a general central council representing the chief local authorities in the kingdom, and which should include a certain number of persons appointed by the Crown to represent the two great services and the authorities distributing Government pensions. The council so constituted could only act through an administrative and financial Committee. By this machinery we hope, not only to provide; a body competent to allocate the funds of the Royal Patriotic Commission, but also one which shall be in close touch with the Government pension authorities on one side and with the local charity organisations throughout the country on the other. As the hon. Gentleman is aware, legislation will be required in 1207 order to transfer the property of the Royal Patriotic Commission to the new council.
§ MR. GALLOWAY (Manchester, S.W.)Do the Government propose to introduce legislation immediately?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI think probably legislation ought to be introduced in the course of the present session. But, of course, I can give no pledge on that subject.