§ MR. VINCENT KENNEDY Cavan, W.)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that tenant purchasers, under The Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1903, are prejudiced in the subsequent sale of their farms, in so much as the stamp duty payable on registering the transfer by the transferee is 200 per cent, more than if the same farm were sold as a tenancy from year to year; and, if so, will the Government introduce legislation to deal with the matter.
582 (Answered by Mr. Victor Cavendish.) It is assumed that the hon. Member is referring to the stamp duty payable on a conveyance on sale. This duty is chargeable, by reference to Section 57 of the Stamp Act, 1891, not only on the money consideration paid by the transferee, but also on the outstanding portion of any advance made to the purchasing tenant. This provision of the law is of general application and is not peculiar to Ireland, and I do not consider that any alteration in the law is desirable.