HC Deb 07 December 1948 vol 459 cc270-1
56. Mr. Janner

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that it is intended to remove the Estate Duty Office to Worthing; and whether he will review this intention.

71. Brigadier Medlicott

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the anxiety felt amongst solicitors over the proposal to remove the Estate Duty Office to Worthing; and if he will reconsider this proposal and arrange for this office to be located in Central London as it was up to the time of the late war.

Sir S. Cripps

Any difficulties caused by this move are outweighed, in my view, by the need to reduce the concentration of the working population in London.

Mr. Janner

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware of the fact that it will cause very considerable trouble and expense to many solicitors and their clients in London and in the provinces when they have no opportunity of going down for interviews at Worthing? Will he take this matter seriously?

Sir S. Cripps

It has been taken very seriously.

Mr. Janner

But more seriously than it has been taken?

Lieut.-Commander Gurney Braithwaite

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman tell us how many officials are involved in this transfer?

Sir S. Cripps

I could not.

Brigadier Medlicott

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that in normal times a great deal of work is done in this Department—if I may use the expression—"over the counter"? Is he aware that this proposal to remove the office to Worthing, far from encouraging this good practice, will greatly increase the length of time taken in administering estates, when much of the work has to be done by post?

Sir S. Cripps

We have had long experience of this. As the hon. and gallant Gentleman knows, this Department has been out of London a long time.

Mr. Teeling

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that in Worthing there is an appalling shortage of houses at the moment, and that there are some 6,000 people in Hove and Brighton awaiting houses?

Sir S. Cripps

This move is not likely to take place for some considerable time.

Mr. Janner

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that solicitors in London and in many parts of the provinces can get to Harrow in a day, whereas they may not be able to get to Worthing in that time?

Sir S. Cripps

The office was at Llandudno for a long time.