§ 49. Mr. CHARLES PRICEasked the Prime Minister what are the terms of the declaration made by an ex-Cabinet Minister before he can receive a political pension; whether his attention has been directed to the fact that the amount of the personal estate of the late Lord Cross has been sworn at £79,299, and that Lord Cross for over twenty years prior to his death received a pension of £2,000 a year; whether, in these circumstances, the payment of a pension is contrary to the condition on which such pensions are tenable; and, if so, whether he will take steps to recover the sum of £40,760 which has been drawn by Lord Cross?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs required by the Act 4 and 5 Will. IV., cap. 24, sec. 6, re-enacted by the Political Offices Pension Act, 1869 (32 and 33 Vict., cap. 60), a declaration must be made by the applicant to the effect that his total income is inadequate to maintain his station in life. It has been customary of recent years for an undertaking to be given by the applicant, in addition to the signed declaration, to surrender the pension in the event of his pecuniary circumstances improving to a material extent, but there is no trace of any such undertaking having been given in the case of the late Lord Cross. I therefore do not see my way to take any further steps in the matter.
§ Mr. JOHN WARDHow many appointments have been made by the present Government to similar pensions?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNone.
§ Earl WINTERTONHow many jobs?
§ Mr. PRICEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will revise his decision in view of the fact that Lord Cross was in office between twelve and thirteen years and received something like £60,000 to £65,000 in that time?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs I have already said the conditional undertaking which was required in recent years does not seem to have been exacted from Lord Cross.
§ Mr. SNOWDENMay I ask if that conditional undertaking is now being exacted from those who are receiving similar pensions?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not think there are any similar pensions.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs my right hon. Friend not aware that, one Noble Lord has become a director of eleven companies since he received a pension?
§ Sir G. YOUNGERWho is to be the judge of the difference in the pecuniary circumstances—the pensioner himself or the Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt is left to the honour of the pensioner.