§ On the Motion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the House resolved itself into a Committee on these Acts.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, that it was understood yesterday evening that he should, upon this occasion, merely submit to the House the schedule of the Duties to be continued by the new Act, and should defer the explanation of them to the next opportunity. In conformity with that understanding he would merely say that there was no intention, as an hon. Gentleman had supposed, to increase the Stamp Duties in this kingdom. There was much done in the schedule to simplify the mode of imposing- these duties, to give accommodation where accommodation could be afforded, and to diminish the general expenditure of the department. As to the propriety of having two columns in the schedule, one containing the present duties, and the other containing the alterations proposed to be made in them, he had only to say, that in many cases it would be extremely difficult, and in some impossible, to make such an arrangement. Where it was practicable he had no objection to agree to the suggestion. He then moved a Resolution repealing all the existing Stamp Acts, and enacting in their stead the duties contained in a Schedule which he handed to the Chairman.
Mr. Rice(confirmed by Mr. Hume)stated, on behalf of the people of Ireland and of Scotland, that nothing but a schedule containing the past and the present duties 1433 would enable practitioners in those countries to know what stamps they ought to employ on different legal instruments. Such an arrangement would save the right hon. Gentleman thousands of letters, which he would otherwise be obliged to answer.
§ Mr. Brighthoped that the duties on insurances, and also on small receipts, would be reduced. He further hoped that the new regulations would enable legal practitioners to act with less uncertainty than now as to the stamps which they ought to employ. The present regulations had caused many cases of intolerable hardship, and he thought the Chancellor of the Exchequer would do no more than justice, while he would confer a great benefit on many persons, if he introduced a clause declaring that all stamps on executed instruments, though contrary to the regulations of the present Acts, should be held valid and legal. He hoped that the Bill would be brought in as speedily as possible after the holidays.
§ Mr. Robinsonalso suggested the propriety of reducing the smaller receipt stamps.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, that he would pay every attention in his power to the suggestions of the two last speakers. He would bring in the Bill as soon after the recess as possible. At the same time he meant to say, that 152 separate Acts of Parliament, containing a great number of minute regulations, and which were to be consolidated into twelve Acts, gave a great deal of trouble. In the new arrangement also he had attached a schedule to each Act, so that every person might find together the stamps in which he was interested and the law relating to them.
§ Resolution agreed to; ordered to be reported to-morrow.