§ MR. BOTTOMLEY (Hackney, S.)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a considerable amount of money is at present in the hands of the bankers of the United Kingdom in respect of dormant balances and obsolete accounts; and whether he will consider the desirableness of introducing legislation to compel the handing over of such sums to the Department of the Public Trustee.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. ASQUITH,) Fifeshire, E.There is, so far as I am aware, no evidence available as to the total amount of such unclaimed deposits, which may or may not be considerable; and, under the law as it at present stands, the State has no claim to them. I do not think there would be any advantage in transferring such funds from the custody of the persons at present accountable for them to that of the Public Trustee.