§ MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the amount of Estate Duty collected in Ireland since the passing of the Finance Act on devolution of tenancies from year to year, what has been the decision of the Irish Courts as to the legality of such duty, and whether the Government propose to refund any duty held not to have been legally exigible.
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACH(1) The amount cannot be exactly stated; it is estimated at £37,000. (2) The decision ! in the case referred to in the question is that what is in Ireland known as "tenant right" comes within the definition of "Agricultural property" in Section 7 (5) of the Finance Act, 1894. The main effect of this decision is that the head rent paid by the tenant, and the expenses of management, are allowable as deductions from the annual value before multiplying such annual value by the number of years purchase agreed upon (but never to exceed 25) to fix the principal value. (3) Orders have been issued that in all cases affected by the decision of the Irish Court, applications for a proper return of Estate Duty are to be entertained.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYHave not the Government been ordered to repay something like £35,000?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHI do not know; it may be so.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWill the Government consider that honesty is the best policy?
§ [The answer was inaudible.]