§ MR. W. WHITELAW (Perth)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether, where the estate of a person domiciled in Scotland consists partly of Consols, and a title to that estate has been completed by confirmation in Scotland, the confirmation has to be sealed in the English Court of Probate before the Consols can be transferred to the executor; and, if so, whether, in view of the fact that Consols are of an Imperial character, and as much Scotch as English, he will consider whether he can introduce legislation dealing with the matter?
§ *MR. J. B. BALFOURInvestments in Consols and other Government funds forming part of the National Debt of the United Kingdom, being under the management of the Bank of England, are held to be English estate, unless such investments have been made through the National Securities Savings Bank. If the estate of a person domiciled in Scotland consists partly of Consols, the confirmation has, therefore, to be sealed in the English Court of Probate. This is in accordance with the general rule that the authority of the Court of a country in which funds are locally situated is required before the executors can uplift or otherwise deal with them. I do not recollect of having heard this complained of as a grievance, and I doubt whether Parliament would be disposed to deal with it separately.