asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will give an estimate of the amount of stamp duty paid on the transfer of stocks and shares for the year ending 5th April 1983 and the cost of collecting this revenue; and whether they will investigate whether the removal of such stamp duty would not significantly increase the flow of capital to promote economic growth; and whether, having taken such action, the resultant loss of revenue from stamp duty would not be more than compensated for by increased direct tax revenue from Stock Exchange operators and VAT levied on commissions.

The yield from stamp duty on the transfer of stocks and shares for the year ending 5 April 1983 is expected to be about £300 million. The overall cost/yield ratio for collecting stamp duty is about 1.01 per cent for 1981/82: no separate figure in respect of stocks and shares is available. Although the abolition of stamp duty on the transfer of stocks and shares would lead to some increase in turnover, and might thereby encourage the raising of new equity capital, it is not possible to make any reliable estimate of the compensatory revenue yield.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When a scheme to eradicate Aujeszky's disease in pigs is likely to be commenced.

We intend to make a start as soon as possible to the control and eradication scheme for Aujeszky's disease, but I am not yet in a position to announce a date. The Pig Industry Levy Bill, which is designed to enable the Meat and Livestock Commission to raise a levy on producers as an essential part of the arrangements, was introduced in another place on 23rd December and will be considered there on 27th January. Intensive preparations are in progress in consultation with producers' organisations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will provide a translation into English of the expressions

When a communication is made orally to the representative of another Government, it is sometimes advisable to hand over a written account of the points made or questions asked. The most formal way is to leave a note verbale (third person note). A less formal way is the aide-memoire (also known as a memoire or memorandum). It is written in the third person and is dated, but it has no opening or closing courtesies, address, signature or official stamp. A method suitable for leaving a record of purely factual material is the "piece of paper" (bout de papier), typed on unheaded paper with no courtesies, date, signature or official stamp.