HC Deb 18 December 1919 vol 123 c850

Vacancies in the number of the five military knights of the Private or Lower Foundation shall not be filled up after the passing of this Act, but, notwithstanding anything in this Act, the persons who are at the time of the passing of this Act military knights of the Private or Lower Foundation shall be entitled fl all the benefits and privileges while they are military knights of that foundation which they enjoyed before the passing of this Act.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."

Sir H. DALZIEL

Will the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that no individual will suffer financially from the operation of this Clause?

Mr. CHURCHILL

Yes, Sir. Every person who is at present a beneficiary will enjoy the benefits he now receives as long as he lives. It is only as the five knights individually die out in the ordinary course that the benefits will be transferred step by step to the other Foundation.

Major GREAME

We imagined that this Bill was a matter of urgency, but now we are told that its operation is necessarily going to wait until the death of these five gentlemen, hale, hearty, trained in military service, who are likely to live for many years—far longer than the present Government.

Question put, and agreed to.

Clause 3 (Short Title)ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported, without Amendment; read the third time, and passed, without Amendment—[King's Consent Signified].