§ MR. O'CLERYasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, When the new scheme for the collection of the Legacy and Succession Duty in the country came into operation; whether since its adoption the revenue from that Duty has not declined to the extent of £350,000; and, whether the scheme was approved of by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, or was carried out by the heads of the Department on their own responsibility?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, the change in the manner of collecting the Legacy and Succession Duty in the country came into operation at the beginning of the present financial year—that is the 1st of April, 1878—and it was approved by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue and by the Treasury. It is perfectly true that the revenue on the Duty has declined within this year to the extent of something like £350,000, and the other day I mentioned several causes to account for that, and I do not think it is necessary to make any further change.