HOUSE OF COMMONS MEMBERS' FUND (Hansard, 29 November 1974)

§ Mr. G. R. Strauss (Vauxhall)

I beg to move, That, in pursuance of the provisions of section 3 of the House of Commons Members' Fund Act 1948, the maximum annual amounts of the periodical payments which may be made out of the House of Commons Members' Fund under the House of Commons Members' Fund Act 1939 as amended by the said Act of 1948 and by the Resolutions of the House of 17th November 1955, 7th March 1957, 17th May 1961, 9th March 1965, 4th May 1971, and 1st August 1972 be varied as from 1st December 1974 as follows:

(a) for paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the said Act of 1939, as so amended, there shall be substituted the following paragraph:

'1. The annual amount of any periodical payment made to any person by virtue of his past membership of the House of Commons shall not exceed £750 or such sum as, in the opinion of the trustees, will bring his income up to £1,250 per annum, whichever is the less: Provided that if, having regard to length of service and need, the trustees think fit, they may make a larger payment not exceeding £1,400 or such sum as, in their opinion, will bring his income up to £1,900 per annum, whichever is the less'; 1073

(b) for paragraph 2 of the said Schedule there shall be substituted the following paragraph:—

'2. The annual amount of any periodical payment to any person by virtue of her being a widow of a past Member of the House of Commons shall not exceed £375 or such sum as, in the opinion of the trustees, will bring her income up to £875 per annum, whichever is the less: Provided that if, having regard to her husband's length of service or to her need, the trustees think fit, they may make a larger payment not exceeding £700 or such sum as, in the opinion of the trustees, will bring her income up to £1,200 per annum, whichever is the less'; (c) in paragraph 2A of the said Schedule for the words 'the annual amount of any periodical payment'" to the end of the paragraph, there shall be substituted the words 'the annual amount of any periodical payment made to any such widower shall not exceed £375 or such sum as, in the opinion of the trustees, will bring his income up to £875 per annum, whichever is the less: Provided that if, having regard to his wife's length of service or to his needs, the trustees think fit, they may make a larger payment not exceeding £700 or such sum as, in the opinion of the trustees, will bring his income up to £1,200 per annum, whichever is the less'. This motion is signed by the trustees of the Members' Fund. I am sure that it will receive the support of the House.

I assure hon. Members that our experience as trustees has made us realise how much this further provision is needed and how much it will be welcomed by those who will benefit from it. I do not think that there is any need to elaborate the changes that we propose, because they are set out in detail in the motion. I therefore content myself with moving the motion.