asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many bills of exchange and promissory notes Stamp Duty was charged in the financial year 1959–60; on how many and to what total amount it was charged in 1960–61; on how many it is estimated that Stamp Duty will be charged in 1961–62; and what will be the total at present rates.

I regret that the numbers of such documents are not known for any year. The net receipt of the duty in Great Britain in 1960–61 was £1,511,000. The estimated yield in 1961–62, at the rates before the changes proposed in the Finance Bill, was just over £1,500,000.