§ MR. SEARS (Cheltenham)To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any witnesses examined before the 1898 Estate Duty Committee, presided over by the present Secretary of State for War, were drawn from outside of Somerset House; will he state what witnesses were examined; and whether a Report referred to in the House should not be laid upon the Table.
(Answered by Mr. Asquith.) The list of witnesses did not include any persons from outside Somerset House. The 864 witnesses examined were the Solicitor of Inland Revenue, the Controller and Deputy Controller of the Legacy and Succession Duty Department, and several of the principal clerks in that Department. The fact that I have answered a Question put to me by the hon. Gentleman about a confidential Report certainly does not impose upon me any obligation to lay the Report upon the Table.