I beg to move,

That, pursuant to section 4(4) of the House of Commons Members’ Fund Act 1948 and section 1(4) of the House of Commons Members’ Fund Act 1957, in the year commencing 1st October 2006 there be appropriated for the purposes of section 4 of the House of Commons Members’ Fund Act 1948:

(1) the whole of the sums deducted or set aside in that year under section 1(3) of the House of Commons Members’ Fund Act 1939 from the salaries of Members of the House of Commons; and

(2) the whole of the Treasury contribution to the Fund.

The motion gives effect to the appropriation to the House of Commons Members’ fund of the contribution that all Members make from their salaries every month and the sum of £215,000 from the Members’ estimate, to which the motion refers as “the Treasury contribution”. The fund is essentially a benevolent fund for former Members and their dependants who have fallen on hard times and need financial assistance, and payments are made with regard to individual circumstances.

The fund is governed by various Acts that stipulate the basis on which payments can be made and the amounts payable. Some payments are known as “as of right” payments; others are awarded at the trustees’ discretion. “As of right” beneficiaries are such because they are either not entitled to a parliamentary pension because they left the House before 1964, or because, as widows and widowers of former Members, they have their small PCPF—parliamentary contributory pension fund—pensions topped up. Some beneficiaries receive discretionary payments because of hardship and their personal circumstances. These are usually one-off grants to improve quality of life—perhaps to facilitate a minor home adaptation.

The fund currently has 100 beneficiaries. The average value of the recurring payments is a modest £2,000 per annum. A handful of one-off grants are made each year with an average value of only about £5,000. Relatively small sums can make a great difference in some circumstances.

I take the opportunity to pay tribute to my fellow trustees for all the work that they undertake on the fund’s behalf, which undoubtedly involves more of their time than they were led to believe when they became trustees.

On behalf of the House, I express our gratitude to the right hon. Member for Hitchin and Harpenden (Mr. Lilley) and the other trustees for the work that they do. The right hon. Gentleman lucidly explained to the House the purpose of the fund and the work of the trustees. Their work on behalf of the House, and in particular on behalf of former Members who may be in more straitened circumstances and their widows and relatives, is extremely important. It is somewhat unsung, but we are grateful. If they did not realise that it would take up so much of their time, that demonstrates to other right hon. and hon. Members that they are paying detailed attention to some vexing cases and some worthy cases. I support the motion.

Question put and agreed to.