§ 31. Mr. CURRIEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, although the money borrowed by the nation on Consols, War Loans, etc., is raised for purposes which are distinctly national and Imperial and in no sense specially applicable to either England, Scotland, or Ireland, the representatives of a deceased's estate in Scotland are involved in English Court dues and English solicitors' charges in respect of the deceased's holdings in such stocks on the ground that such are distinctively English estate; whether this distinction was intended or prescribed by any Statute or rests upon a mere custom the discontinuance of which he is in a position to bring about; whether the Exchequer derives any benefit from the practice; whether there is any public object to serve by inflicting such charges and trouble upon investors in Scotland; and, if not, whether he will take steps to relieve investors in Scotland of them for the future, especially as they are now investing their savings in the new War Loan?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe hon. Member has already been in communication with me on this subject. I am making inquiries and will communicate with him further as soon as possible.