HC Deb 05 December 1927 vol 211 cc949-50

Considered in Committee.

[Captain FITZROY in the Chair.]

The CHAIRMAN OF WAYS AND MEANS (Mr. James Hope)

I beg to move, That in lieu of the Stamp Duties which would have been payable upon the deeds or instruments which, in case the Perth County Buildings Order had not been confirmed, would have been required to pass to and vest in the County Council of Perth certain lands, buildings, and other heritable property, there be charged a Stamp Duty of £5, and such duty shall be impressed upon a copy of the Act confirming the Order to be produced to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue under the fourth Section thereof. This is an example of procedure on Private Bills which only occurs at very rare intervals. What has happened in this case is that the Special Commissioners of the County of Perth propose to transfer to the Perth County Council certain buildings which have been in their possession for, I understand, something like 120 years. The value of these buildings has had to be taken into account, and in the ordinary course the full Stamp Duty on the transfer would have to be paid, but as it is a question of transfer from one public body to another, it is thought inadvisable to charge the whole of the Stamp Duty, whereby the county of Perth will be relieved, at the expense of the Treasury, of a fairly considerable sum. It is, therefore, proposed to put a nominal Stamp Duty of £5 on the transfer, but as that, small as is the amount involved, imposes a charge on the public funds, it has to go through the usual procedure of getting a Money Resolution in this House.

Mr. THURTLE

As this is a matter which is going to involve a saving of money to Scotland, I do not propose to object.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolution to be reported To-morrow.