§ CAPTAIN PRETYMAN (Suffolk, Woodbridge)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the extreme inconvenience caused by the present uncertainty as to whether estate duty will be payable upon interests which have been alienated during lifetime, there is any probability that the hearing of the appeal in the Beach case before the House of Lords will be fixed for an early date?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUEROf course it does not rest with me to fix the hearing of this case. I do not suppose it is likely to be heard before the November sittings, but certainly the Crown would desire that the matter should be decided as soon as possible.
MR. J. LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)Can the right honourable Gentleman say whether in the meantime any attempt will be made to levy the duty?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERIt has already been stated that the duty will be levied in every case, but that notice will be given to those who have to pay that the duty so levied will be returned if the House of Lords decides against the Exchequer.