§ MR. STANLEY LEIGHTONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Whether he can inform the House what is the total amount of accumulations on the Crown's Nominee Account, which may be claimed, either by right according to Law, or by grace according to precedent, and to which the Statute of Limitations contained in the Intestates' Estates Bill will apply?
§ MR. COURTNEY, in reply, said, he was not quite sure what the hon. Member meant by his Question. The Bill, if passed, would in due time apply to all estates that had been, however recently, brought within the administration of the Treasury. He supposed, however, the hon. Gentleman wished to know what was the total sum which at present could be claimed either by law or moral obligation, but which claim would be barred if the Bill became law. The total amount of accumulation a week ago was about £250,000, of which only a very small portion would possibly come within the scope of the Bill. He thought he would be safe in putting the maximum sum at £50,000. The object of the Bill was not to bring money into the Exchequer, but to close accounts which had been outstanding for some time, and to prevent the possibility of persons wasting their time and labour in making impossible claims.