§ 45. Mr. KINGasked the Prime Minister whether he has considered the granting of a political pension in place of that which lapsed on the death of Lord Cross; and whether he will consider the propriety of modifying the declaration required from a 1097 political pensioner before making any recommendation?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, I think that an undertaking should be exacted similar to that adopted by Mr. Gladstone.
§ Mr. KINGMay we take it then that these facts which have come to light have made the Prime Minister quite aware that some change ought to be made in connection with these pensions?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think that if the undertaking suggested by Mr. Gladstone was uniformly enforced it meets the requirements of the case.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI cannot say that.
§ 61 and 62. Mr. CHARLES PRICEasked the Prime Minister (1) whether the Bight Honourable Lord George F. Hamilton is a political pensioner of the first class and draws £2,000 per annum from the Treasury; what are the terms of the declaration made entitling him to such pension; whether he is aware that Lord George F. Hamilton is director of the American Freehold Land Mortgage Company of London, director of the Bank of Australia, director of the Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China, chairman of the Metropolitan District Railway Company, director of the Whitechapel and Bow Railway Company, deputy-chairman of the Phoenix Assurance Company, director of the Union Marine Insurance Company, deputy-chairman of the Underground Electric Railway Company of London, and chairman of the Central London Railway Company; and whether he will take steps to have his name removed from the Civil List; and (2) whether the Right Honourable Lord Balfour of Burleigh is a political pensioner of the second class and draws £1,200 per annum from the Treasury; what are the terms of the declaration made entitling him to such pension; and whether he is aware that Lord Balfour of Burleigh is governor of the Bank of Scotland, chairman of the City of San Paulo Improvement and Freehold Land Company, chairman of the San Paulo Railway Company, director of the Great Northern Railway Company, director of 1098 the Forth Bridge Railway Company, chairman of the Imperial and Foreign Corporation, chairman of the Pacific Phosphate Company, director of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, director of the Western Telegraph Company, member of the Council of the Russian and English Bank; and, if so, will he take steps to remove the name of Lord Balfour from the Civil List of pensioners?
§ The PRIME MINISTERLord George Hamilton and Lord Balfour of Burleigh are political pensioners of the first and second class respectively, and receive the pensions stated. For the terms of the declaration made by them on application for the award of pensions I will refer my hon. Friend to my reply of Tuesday last. I am not aware of the emoluments derived by the Noble Lords from the sources quoted, but I am confident that, if they were such as to render the retention of their pensions inconsistent with the terms upon which the pensions were granted, they would inform me of the fact.
§ Mr. PRICEMay I ask my right hon. Friend how recent was the declaration given in the sense required by Mr. Gladstone to surrender the pension in the event of their pecuniary circumstances improving to a material extent?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThere has been no case in my time, and I can only speak from what I have learned. In the case of Lord Balfour of Burleigh I know that undertaking was given, and I have every reason to think it was given by Lord George Hamilton.
§ Mr. KINGWill the right hon. Gentleman send to all political pensioners copies of the questions and answers that have recently been made upon the matter?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThey are a very small body, and I think they would probably read the newspapers.
§ Mr. PRICEMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether he will inquire from those pensioners the total amount of income derived from those companies, so that he can form his own judgment as to whether they are entitled to pensions or not?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI cannot do that. This is a matter of honour. Any 1099 distinguished person who has been in the service of the State and who is entitled to receive a pension of this kind would probably voluntarily and spontaneously give it up.
Sir HENRY DALZIELWill my right hon. Friend ask the Noble Lords the question: Whether they will supply him with the grounds on which they opposed the Government old age pension scheme?