§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (LORD LEE OF FAREHAM)My Lords, this is a very small measure which passed through the House of Commons without amendment, and is technically a Money Bill. It simply seeks to confer upon the Admiralty the powers which are at present enjoyed by the War Office, the Air Ministry, and the Ministry of Pensions, to commute pensions of the rank and file. This power has been recommended by Committees which have sat to consider the subject, and the Bill will merely have the effect of bringing the powers of the Admiralty into line with those of other Departments. The Bill also empowers the Admiralty to restore a pension which has been forfeited under the Forfeiture Act, 1870, and to pay or apply any part of the pension which has been restored to the pensioners for the benefit of wife, children, or other dependants whilst the pensioner himself is undergoing imprisonment. Clause 3 is necessitated by the conversion of the coastguards into a pensionable force. So far as I am aware the Bill is entirely non-contentious, and I hope your Lordships will give it a Second Reading.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Lard Lee of Fareham.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a. Committee negatived.