§ 39. Mr. REMER(for Mr. HANNON) asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the circumstances under which a sum of £428 3s. has been remitted in respect of stamp duties payable on royal warrants, letters patent, and dockets conferring knighthood on 14 persons residing abroad or otherwise unable to attend investitures; and if he will give the detailed items and the amounts thus remitted?
§ Major ELLIOTLetters Patent are necessary to confer Knighthood on persons who are resident abroad or who are otherwise unable to attend to be dubbed by His Majesty. The sum of £428 8s. represents the stamp duties payable in 14 such cases, the duties payable in each case being £30 12s. Twelve of the gentlemen in question were distinguished public servants in the Dominions and Colonies and two others were unable to attend investiture through illness. It is considered to be unreasonable in the circumstances to require payment of these charges, but the Treasury has no power to waive the statutory duties, and it is necessary therefore for the money to be specially voted by Parliament.