MR. O'KEEFFEI beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in the forthcoming Budget, he will advise the discontinuance of collection of licence in certificates of solicitors in Ireland, and if any reason exists why this impost on a learned profession is continued when no similar tax is imposed on the barrister, medical, engineering, or any other profession?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.The stamp duty on solicitors' annual certificates is not confined to Ireland, but is payable by every person practising as a solicitor or law agent, or as a notary public, in any part of the United Kingdom. I believe that there is no desire on the part of the profession generally for a discontinuance of the duty, and I cannot hold out any prospect of its repeal.