§ 1. Mr. Denzil Freethasked the Attorney-General the proportion of the expenditure of the Public Trustee Office incurred in the management of private trusts; and the proportion, and amount, incurred on other trusts.
§ The Attorney-General (Sir Reginald Manningham-Buller)It is not possible to apportion the expenditure of the Public Trustee Office between the different trusts administered by it.
§ Mr. FreethWill my hon. and learned Friend, however, not agree that it is unfair that small people whose trusts are managed by the Public Trustee Office should have found in the last year that their management fees have risen no less than four times?
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe management fees have risen to pay for the increased expenses. By Section 9 (4) of the Public Trustee Act, 1906, the Public Trustee Office can charge only enough fees to discharge the salaries and other expenses incidental to the working of the Act.
§ 2. Mr. Denzil Freethasked the Attorney-General the sum brought in in the last financial year of operation of the withdrawal fee charges by the Public Trustee Office; and whether this sum relates to the period before or after the halving of this fee.
§ The Attorney-GeneralA sum of £146,474 was taken by the Public Trustee in withdrawal fees in the financial year 1958–59. Of that amount £26,168 was levied at the old rate.