2Rate of payments as of right and effect on rate of discretionary payments.
(1)The annual rate of any payments made under section 1 shall be—
(a)£1,000 if the payments are made to a past member; and
(b)£500 if the payments are made to the widow or widower of a past member,
but the House of Commons may from time to time by resolution vary that rate from a date specified in the resolution.
(2)Section 2 of the [1946 c. 36.] Statutory Instruments Act 1946 (numbering and printing of statutory instruments) shall apply to any such resolution as if it were a statutory instrument.
(3)Payments made to any person under section 1 of this Act shall count against the limit on the annual amount of any payments that may be made to him under section 1 of the [1939 c. 49.] House of Commons Members' Fund Act 1939.