§ 54. Brigadier-General CLIFTON BROWNasked the Chancellor of the 19 Exchequer what were the amounts of Death Duties received by the Treasury from agricultural estates in 1926, 1927 and 1928, respectively?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Arthur Michael Samuel)The Estate Duty paid on agricultural land is estimated for the years 1925–26, 1926–27 and 1927–28 at £3,250,000, £3,400,000 and £2,500,000 respectively. The Succession Duty paid is estimated to be about £250,000 per annum.
Brigadier-General BROWNIn view of the Socialist proposals for land nationalisation whereby Death Duties would be abolished, will not the hon. Gentleman take these burdens off agricultural land at once?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODTo what does the hon. Gentleman attribute the fall in the figure last year? Is it due to many landowners turning themselves into limited companies?
§ Mr. SAMUELNo, I do not think so.