House of Commons Members' Fund (Hansard, 25 November 1983)

§ Mr. Alfred Morris (Manchester, Wythenshawe)

I beg to move, That in pursuance of the provisions of section 3 of the House of Commons Members' Fund Act 1948 and of section 2 of the House of Commons Members' Fund and Parliamentary Pensions Act 1981 the maximum annual amounts of the periodical payments which may be made out the House of Commons Members' Fund under the House of Commons Members' Fund Act 1939, as amended and the annual rate of any payments made under section 1 of the said Act of 1981 shall be varied as from 1st December 1983 as follows:

(a) for paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the said Act of 1939, as 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 £2,091 or such sum as, in the opinion of the trustees, will bring his income up to £3,868 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 £4,038 or such sum as, in their opinion, will bring his income up to £5,815 per annum, whichever is the less:'

(b) for paragraph 2 of that 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 £1,047 or such sum as, in the opinion of the trustees, will bring her income up to £2,824 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 £2,016 or such sum as, in the opinion of the trustees, will bring her income up to £3,793 per annum, whichever is the less:'

(c) in paragraph 2A of that 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 £1,047 or such sums as, in the opinion of the trustees, will bring his income up to £2,824 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 £2,016 or such sum as, in the opinion of the trustees, will bring his income up to £3,793 per annum, whichever is the less:'

(d) in section 2(1) of the said Act of 1981, for the words from the beginning to the end of paragraph (b)there shall be substituted the words:

'the annual rate of any payments made under section I shall be—

(a) £1,218 if the payments are made to a past Member; and
(b) £609 if the payments are made to the widow or widower of a past Member'.

626 The motion stands in my name and the names of other right hon. and hon. Members who, as fellow trustees, share with me responsibility for administering the fund.

There is no need for me to detain the House for long, as the provisions for which we seek approval are set out in detail on the Order Paper. Under paragraph (a) we set out the new provision for grants to ex-Members. At present the trustees are authorised to make grants to ex-Members up to £2,016, provided that the total income of the applicant, including the grant, does not exceed £3,730. By this resolution, the grant is raised to £2,091 and the income limit to £3,868. To that is added the provision by which the trustees will be authorised to make larger grants, having due regard to length of service and to need, of up to £4,038, provided that the income of the applicant together with the grant does not exceed £5,815.

Grants to widows are set out under paragraph (b) At present the grant to a widow of an ex-Member is £1,008. provided that her income with the grant does not exceed £2,722. This grant is raised to £1,047, and the income limit to £2,824. There follows the provision by which, having regard to her husband's length of service or to need, the trustees will be able to make grants of up to £2,016, provided that the income with the grant does not exceed £3,793.

Grants to widowers are set out under paragraph (c) and the provisions are similar to those for widows under paragraph (b).

Paragraph (d) refers to the as-of-right payments from the Members' fund to former Members who had 10 years service before October 1964, and to widows and widowers of such Members provided for by the House of Commons Members' Fund and Parliamentary Pensions Act 1981, which came into force on 19 March 1981. That seeks to increase the payments at present at the rate of £1,176 per annum to former Members to £1,218 per annum, and the payments to widows or widowers from £588 per annum to £609 per annum. I emphasise that we are always striving to identify former Members or their widows or widowers who are qualified to receive these payments, and I shall be most grateful if right hon. and hon. Members will get in touch with me if they know of any such cases.

These new provisions will all become operative from 1 December 1983. They provide for increases of approximately 3.7 per cent. across the board, in lire with the provisions contained in the Pensions Increase (Review) Order 1983.

I hope that the resolution will be unanimously approved, and I commend it to the House.