Captain Macdonaldasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the proceeds derived by the Duke of Richmond and Gordon from the purchase by the Government of a large portion of his Scottish estates will be applied towards the payment of Death Duties due by him on account of the death of his father; and whether it is the policy of the Government in future to make similar purchases of landed estates where Death Duties cannot otherwise be paid?
§ Sir J. SimonThe purchase referred to was an ordinary land investment operation carried out by the Commissioners of Crown Lands under the provisions of the Crown Lands Acts. The purchase price was provided from capital moneys in the hands of the Commissioners, representing the proceeds of previous sales of land and awaiting reinvestment in land when a suitable opportunity should occur. No question as to the payment of Death Duties entered into the transaction. The second part of the question does not therefore arise.