HC Deb 09 March 1904 vol 131 cc577-8
MR. T. M. HEALY

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware that, notwithstanding the declarations on the subject made by him in debate on the Irish Land Bill last session, it is still the practice of the Inland Revenue Authorities in Ireland, on the sale of their holdings by Tenant purchasers, to require stamp duty to be paid on the conveyance on the unpaid balance of the loan due to the Irish Land Commission, as if that sum formed portion of the consideration money on the sale; and whether this matter will be dealt with in the Bill to amend the Land Act.

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. ATKINSON,) Londonderry, N.

Until I read the hon. Member's Question, I was not aware that the practice he mentioned had, as he alleges, been adopted, nor do I know what particular declaration he refers to. I have, asked for a report upon the matter, and pending the receipt of that report I cannot reply to the earlier portion of his Question. In reply, however, to the last query, I beg to say that the provision he suggests would be outside the scope of the Bill to be introduced to-day.

MR. T. M. HEALY

The question was raised in the debate last July?

MR. ATKINSON

I will look it up.