Mr. David Adamsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any estimates have been formed as to amounts lost to the State through avoidance of Death 1746W Duties; and whether he proposes to take steps to ensure that, in future, evasion or avoidance of Death Duties shall be made more difficult, and that thus, the burden of rearmament shall be more evenly spread?
§ Sir J. SimonI am not in a position to put forward an estimate of the loss of Death Duties through avoidance. Avoidance of taxation is constantly under review and I may remind the hon. Member that there has been much legislation on the subject in recent years and that the Finance Acts of 1930, 1936 and 1938 contained provisions relating to the Death Duties.
The question whether further provisions are necessary is a matter for the Budget and the hon. Member will not expect me to anticipate my Budget statement.