§ 34. Mr. BARNESasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has received any applications, as in terms of Section 56 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, from persons liable to pay Estate Duty offering to pay the same by transfer of land; if so, how many, and what area and value of land has been thus transferred to the Crown; and if any such application has come, or is likely to come, from the heirs of the late Duke of Sutherland, or if the Treasury has any means of acquiring part of the Sutherland estate in payment of Death Duty and on the basis of the valuation upon which rates and taxes have been levied upon it?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Lloyd George)Fifty-seven applications of the nature referred to by my hon. Friend have been received and have been dealt with in the manner stated in reply to questions asked in this House on the 22nd and 30th October last. In pursuance of the arrangements by which the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, as representing the Crown, do not themselves accept land, but act as intermediaries for its transfer to some other public Department or authority who might desire to purchase it, 4 acres 2 roods.2 poles of land, valued at £193 10s., have been transferred to the Somerset County Council. No application under the Section has yet been received from the heirs of the late Duke of Sutherland, and it is not known whether any such application will be made. If, however, any is received, the Commissioners will communicate with the public Departments or authorities for whose purposes the land may seem to be suitable.