§ MR. BOWLESI beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been given to the fact that numerous small sums, aggregating £1,128 8s. 8d., transferred from the land revenues of the Crown, are yearly paid out of the Consolidated Fund to various persons and bodies, including the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and certain precentors and ministers of Gaelic and other churches in Scotland; and in view of the perpetual character of universities and of Scottish precentors and ministers, will ho take steps to cummute these payments and so to relieve the Consolidated Fund.
§ MR. ASQUITHThese allowances are the survivals of a longer list which has been reduced by commutation as opportunities occurred. There is no power to enforce commutation upon the recipients, but the Treasury is always willing to discuss terms with them.