MR. O'KEEFFEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what time the proportion of Probate Duties granted by Parliament in relief of local taxation will be applied in Ireland; and if it is possible to mention the probable sums that will be so annually distributed?
§ *THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EX-CHEQUER (Mr. J. G. GOSCHEN,) St. George's, Hanover SquareWith regard to the great bulk of the Probate Duty grant, which goes in equal moieties to the relief of county cess and of poor rate, I understand that the Lord Lieutenant's regulations provide that the Local Government Board shall submit to the Lord Lieutenant, as soon after the 31st of March as may be practicable, a statement showing the amount of the grant to which each Board of Guardians and road authority is entitled in respect of the financial year ending on that day; and, on receiving the Lord Lieutenant's approval of such grants, the Local Government Board shall cause payment thereof to be made by means of orders on the Paymaster General. With regard to the £5,000 payable to the Royal Dublin Society, I understand that the Lord Lieutenant has made regulations by which this sum shall be paid to that society as soon after the 1st of January in each year as his Excellency shall direct. It is impossible to state the exact amount of the Probate Duty grant to Ireland, as it depends on the yield of the Probate Duty in any given year. This year Ireland receives 9 per cent of one-third of the Probate Duty, and this grant is expected to amount to something between £120,000 and £130,000. In future years Ireland will receive 9 per cent of half of the Probate Duty. If the Probate Duty during the coming year yields at the same rate as during the present year, Ireland will receive about £190,000.