asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the aggregate sum that has been paid to the treasurer of the Society of King's Inns by the Commissioners for Inland Revenue for the period 31st March, 1925, to 31st March, 1950, out of stamp duties collected on indentures of apprentices to solicitors, and if he is aware of any function or service performed by the Society of King's Inns for the benefit of apprentices during that period, and whether he intends to introduce proposals for legislation to amend the Stamp Act, 1891, so as to provide that the Incorporated Law Society shall become the recipient of a sum of £14 out of the duty on each indenture.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Stamp Duties.
An aggregate of £20,720 has been paid over to the treasurer of the Society of King's Inns by the Revenue Commissioners during the period from the 31st March, 1925, to the 31st March, 1950, out of the stamp duties paid on articles of clerkship to a solicitor.
The statutory provision authorising these payments originated in 1790, and, so far as I am aware, it has never been established that the purpose of the payments was to enable the society to provide facilities for solicitors' apprentices.
The question of amending the Stamp Act, 1891, with regard to the duty payable on articles of clerkship to a solicitor, is receiving consideration.