§ 49. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the drain on the revenue, amounting to over £22,000,000 per annum, caused by the annual inroads into the national capital made by Death Duties; and whether, with a view to avoiding this annual loss of revenue, he will consider allowing taxpayers to make provision during their lifetime towards the estate duties payable on their death without having payments of tie kind aggregated with the rest of their estate, thereby not only increasing the duty payable but often placing the whsle estate in an increased category of duty?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am afraid I can hold out no hope of any relief from the Death Duties on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs my right hon. Friend aware that the point of the question is, not relief from Death Duties, but saving the national income and avoiding the break-up of estates? Surely it is worth while asking his experts to consider whether both these objects cannot be attained?