§ 37. Captain GARRO-JONESasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that Mr. Attorney-General and the Board of Inland Revenue have entered upon a dispute concerning certain duties payable on residuary charitable bequests by the late Lord Northcliffe, and that these two branches of the Government have joined action in the Chancery Division at a prospective cost to which it is difficult to estimate a limit; and whether he will have the case examined with a view to settlement by a speedier and less expensive process of arbitration or by mediation between the parties?
Mr. SAMUELI have been asked to reply. It is not correct to say that there is any dispute between the Attorney-General acting for the charities and the Inland Revenue in regard to this matter. The incidence of the duties, owing to the very complicated trusts of the will, is difficult to determine and the executors, for their protection and for the protection of infant and unborn beneficiaries, decided to take out an originating summons to settle the question of duty. They requested the Revenue to become parties to such summons in order that the Revenue might be bound and assist in determining these difficulties, and the Commissioners of Inland Revenue consented.