Mr. DUNDAS WHITEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in obtaining particulars with reference to lands under Part I. of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, the Commissioners are making use of the powers conferred on them by Section 31 of that Act in such a way as to obtain information, not only as to who are the owners of the lands within the meaning of that Act, but also, in cases where such owners are themselves lessees or vassals, to obtain information as to their lessors or superiors, and where these in turn are lessees or vassals, information as to their lessors and superiors, and so on till the record includes information up to and including those who hold the lands of the Crown, or have the highest title to the lands; whether the inquiry is thus being pushed back in the case of each property 961W to the person having the highest title thereto; and, if not, in what cases and how far this is being done; and whether he will take steps to have it done in every case?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEWhere a lessee is owner within the meaning of the Act, the names and addresses of reversioners (other than short leasehold reversioners) are necessary for the purposes of the service of the provisional valuation, and are accordingly obtained. Where a vassal is owner, the name of the superior is normally not requisite, and therefore is normally not called for. An extension of the inquiry would be laborious and expensive, and would be of no present fiscal benefit.