§ MR. SEARSI beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any official information showing that the centralisation of examination of estate affidavits at headquarters, and the disregard of local knowledge possessed by revenue officials, is responsible for leakage of revenue; has his attention been 700 directed to a case in which estate duty on £132,300 was paid on an estate in; 1898, which in 1900 was floated with a capital of,£450,000, when the profits were sufficient to pay all preference charges, and give 8 per cent, to the ordinary shareholders and to provides for a reserve fund; and, if so, will he say what inquiry was made at the time in a case in which the loss to the revenue appears to have been something like £20,000.
§ MR. ASQUITHThe general experience of the Board of Inland Revenue does not confirm the inference suggested in the first portion of the Question. The Board of Inland Revenue have not, so far, been able to trace the particular case referred to; but, if the hon. Member will give the name of the deceased and date of death, further inquiries will be made.