§ MR. LEAI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the Acts 23 Geo. 3, c. 86, and 33 Geo. 3, c. 77, whereby an annuity of £2,000 has been conferred on all and every the heirs to whom the title of Lord Rodney shall descend; whether he is aware that to date the nation has paid seven holders of this title £248,000; and whether he can promise that the Government will bring in a Bill to end this annuity.
I beg also to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the letters patent dated 22nd December, 8 Will. 3, to the letters patent dated 29th June, 1715, and Acts 1 Geo. 1, No. 78, and 19 and 20 Vic, c. 59, whereby a pension of £2,880 net was conferred on the heirs of the Duke of Schomberg; whether he is aware that this pension has been reduced by commutations in 1855, 1876, 1877, and 1883, until at the present time £720 still continues to be paid to the heirs of this individual; will he state the amount to date that has been paid by the public to the heirs under these letters patent and Acts, including the capital amounts paid under the commutations dated above and the names of those heirs to-day to whom the £720 is paid, specifying the amounts paid to each; and whether he will give this House an assurance that he will introduce a short Bill next session to end this annuity.
I beg further to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the Act, 46 Geo. III., c. 146, whereby an annuity of £5,000 has been conferred on such persons to whom the title of Earl Nelson shall 976 descend; that this annuity was in addition to a sum of £120,000 as a further provision for the family of the said Earl Nelson; whether he is aware that under this Act the nation has paid the Nelson family £625,000 to date; and whether he can give an assurance that next year this Government will bring in a short Bill to end this annuity.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANAs these three questions involve a considerable number of figures I propose to circulate the reply with the Votes. †
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the family of the Duke of Schomberg have never resided in this country, and that they have even refused a sixpence towards the monument to their great ancestor in St. Patrick's Cathedral?
§ MR. LEAWill the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that next year he will introduce a Bill to put an end to these feudal anomalies?
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANIt is well known that there have been attempts, successful attempts in some instances, to deal with these annual charges in past years, and the financial authorities of the country are always ready to take that course whenever opportunity offers.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that although Nelson was given immense sums of money his daughter was left to die in poverty and destitution?
§ [No Answer was returned.]