HC Deb 11 February 1929 vol 225 cc18-9
54. Brigadier-General CLIFTON BROWN

asked the Chancellor of the 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 BROWN

In 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 WEDGWOOD

To 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. SAMUEL

No, I do not think so.