§ MR. STANLEY LEIGHTONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Whether he will state the total amount of the dormant fund of unclaimed money now in Chancery, the amount of interest received thereon during the year ending 31st December 1881, and the manner in which that interest has been spent?
§ LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISHIt is estimated very roughly that the dormant funds in Chancery amount to 1140 about £700,000, of which only a small portion is really unclaimed. If the hon. Member desired it, an accurate Return might be prepared; but it would require some time to do so, and the employment of some six or eight clerks for that time. A large portion of the funds are invested, and the interest on them accumulates for the benefit of the cause to which it belongs. The uninvested portion forms a part of the general balance of the Chancery fund. I cannot, however, state precisely what proportion of the amount is uninvested. To do so would require the detailed examinations of over 3,000 accounts.