National Debt (Conversion of Stock) Act 1884

1 Creation of new 2 ¾ per cent. stock, and of additional 2 ½ per cent, stock

(1) Subject to the limitation in this Act mentioned, the Treasury may at any time and from time to time within two years after the passing of this Act, by warrant addressed to the Bank, direct—

(a) that stock shall be created, consisting of perpetual annuities yielding dividends at the rate of two pounds fifteen shillings per cent. per annum, which stock may be called two and three-quarters per cent. stock ; and

(b) that an additional amount of two and a half per cent. stock shall be created ;

or give either of such directions : Provided that the amount of stock so directed to be created shall not be more than the Treasury, on the recommendation of the National Debt Commissioners, from time to time deem sufficient for the purpose of exchange under this Act.

(2) The two and three-quarters per cent. stock, and two and a half per cent. stock, shall not be redeemable until the fifth day of January one thousand nine hundred and five, but on and after such day shall be redeemable by Parliament after not less than one month's notice at the rate of one hundred pounds sterling for every hundred pounds of the capital sums in respect of which the annuities are payable, together with the payment of all arrears of such annuities, including a proportionate part accrued since the last date for the payment of dividends.

(3) Such notice shall be a resolution of the House of Commons signified by the Speaker in writing and printed in the London Gazette: and the portion of stock redeemed at one time shall not be less, in the case of two and three-quarters per cent. stock, than five million pounds capital stock, and in the case of two and a half per cent. stock, than fourteen million pounds capital stock; but subject as aforesaid, the mode of redemption shall be determined by an Act to be hereafter passed.

(4) The two and three-quarters per cent. stock of annuities shall form part of the National Debt, and shall be payable by equal quarterly dividends on the fifth day of January, the fifth day of April, the fifth day of July, and the fifth day of October in every year.

(5) The annuities created in pursuance of this Act shall be charged on the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom, and paid out of the permanent annual charge of the National Debt, and the provisions of the [33 & 34 Vict. c. 71.] National Debt Act, 1870, shall apply in the same manner, so far as may be consistently with the tenour of this Act, as if the stocks of annuities created in pursuance of this Act were part of the stocks of perpetual annuities described in the First Schedule to the National Debt Act, 1870; and the two and a half per cent. stock created under this Act shall be consolidated with the two and a half per cent. stock mentioned in the said Schedule; and the Treasury may by warrant declare that the two and three-quarters per cent. stock shall be subject to Part Five of the said Act.