§ SIR SEYMOUR KING (Hull, Central)To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state what is the total amount of public money that has been paid in respect of commutation of pensions since 1589 the passing of the Pensions Commutation Act of 1871; and if a Return could be furnished showing whether, under the Treasury regulations in force, the Exchequer has profited or lost over the transactions effected, and to what extent.
(Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) The amount advanced from Savings Banks Funds since the passing of the Pensions Commutation Act, 1871, up to the end of December, 1907, was £5,790,973 1s. In cases in which the whole pension has been commuted there is no record of the subsequent history of the pensioner or of the date of his death. It would, therefore, not be possible to prepare such a Return as is contemplated in the Question.