§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what expense the Treasury Solicitor has been put in investigating the claims made in connection with the estate of Adrienne Maria Weihs; what procedures were undertaken and what investigations were made to ensure that the contents of the estate of Adrienne Maria Weihs were disposed of at proper prices; and, in view of the dispute relating to this estate, if he will introduce changes of procedure into the Bona Vacantia Department to ensure that goods are properly safeguarded and properly disposed of.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralI have been asked to reply. The work of investigating claims in connection with the estate of Adrienne Maria Weihs, who died on 1 June 1975, has been carried out by officers of the Treasury Solicitor's Department in the course of their normal duties. The only unusual expenditure involved has been in respect of a visit to Ireland by an officer in connection both with this estate and another matter; this expenditure amounted to about £220 covering both cases.
Late in 1975 it appeared to the Treasury Solicitor that the estate was one that might fall to be dealt with as bona vacantia, and the usual inquiries for kin were instituted. In January 1976 the Treasury Solicitor decided that the furniture and effects that remained in the deceased's flat and which formed part of this estate should be sold to a dealer to enable possession of the flat to be given up to the landlord—the local authority—for re-letting. In adopting this course, the Treasury Solicitor relied on the evidence both of a friend of Mrs. Weihs whom she had named as executor in an invalid will and of a representative of the local authority, which indicated that the furniture was not of significant value. It was also arranged that the dealer should clear the flat and do the necessary cleaning.
The procedures of the bona vacantia division for safeguarding jewellery and other valuables held by the Treasury Solicitor were reviewed and changed following the theft—which came to light in 1979—by an officer of the Treasury Solicitor's Department of jewellery forming part of several estates including the estate of Mrs. Weihs. The theft was facilitated by the non-observance of the then existing procedure. The procedures relating to the disposal of other effects are now being reviewed by the Treasury Solicitor, who has directed that, in the meantime, instructions to dealers to clear tenanted property are to be given only on the authority of a senior officer.