§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what sums passed to the Crown as ultimus haeres from Scottish estates where the deceased failed to leave an effective will in the last year for which figures are available. [51440]
§ Mr. McLeishThe total sum passed to the Crown Office in Scotland as Ultimus Haeres for the year 1 January 1997 to 31 December 1997 was £1,708,773.03.
The part of the sum attributable to Scottish estates where the deceased failed to leave a Will cannot be identified separately from sums passing to the Crown from dissolved companies without disproportionate cost to the Department.