HC Deb 10 December 1979 vol 975 cc1037-8

Resolved,

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 17 November 1955, 7 March 1957, 17 May 1961, 9 March 1965, 4 May 1971, 1 August 1972, 29 November 1974, 27 November 1975, 8 November 1976, 30 November 1977, 6 December 1977 and 30 November 1978, be varied as from 1 December 1979 as follows:

  1. (a) for paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the said Act of 1939, as so amended, there shall be substituted the following paragraph: —
    1. 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 £1,440 or such sum as, in the opinion of the trustees, will bring his income up to £2,655 per annum, whichever is the less:
    2. Provided that if, having regard to length of service and need, the trustees think fit, they may make a larger payment not exceeding £2,780 or such sum as, in their opinion, will bring his income up to £4,000 per annum, whichever is the less;
  2. (b) for paragraph 2 of the said Schedule there shall be substituted the following paragraph: —
    1. 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 £720 or such sum as, in the opinion of the trustees, will bring her income up to £1,935 per annum, whichever is the less:
    2. 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 £1,390 or such sum as, in the opinion of the trustees, will bring her income up to £2,605 per annum, whichever is the less;
  3. (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—
  4. 'the annual amount of any periodical payment made to any such widower shall not exceed £720 or such sum as, in the opinion of the trustees, will bring his 1038 income up to £1,935 per annum, whichever is the less:
  5. 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 £1,390 or such sum as, in the opinion of the trustees, will bring his income up to £2,605 per annum, whichever is the less.'.—[Sir Nigel Fisher.]