I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury what was the amount of the legal fees paid during the last year in the House of Lords; and how, and under what authority, statutory or otherwise, this sum of money is disposed of.

The total amount of legal fees paid during the past financial year in the House of Lords was £2,113 4s. By an arrangement made between the House and the Treasury in 1868, after reserving so much as may be required (together with the interest of the invested Fee Fund) to meet retiring allowances, all fees payable to the House of Lords were paid into the Exchequer. Since 1896–7 the surplus fees have been Appropriated in aid of the annual Vote.