§ 14. Mr. Laneasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the total loss or profit, respectively, of the nationalised coal, gas, electricity and railway industries to the latest available date.
§ Mr. DiamondThe aggregates of the annual surpluses and deficits on the revenue accounts of these industries at the end of their latest complete financial years, after meeting interest charges, were as follows:
§ >Coal Industry—Net deficit of £ 115 million.
§ Gas Industry—Net surplus of £ 73 million.
§ Electricity Industry—Net surplus of £ 492 million.
§ Railways:
§ Under British Transport Commission—Net deficit of £ 809 million.
§ Under British Railways Board (since 1963)
§ —Net deficit of £ 522 million.
1209§ Mr. LaneIn any Ministerial discussions about aluminium smelters, will the right hon. Gentleman urge his colleagues to avoid any arrangement which will add to the National Coal Board's deficit, in accordance with the clear assurance which the Prime Minister gave the House on 14th November?
§ Mr. DiamondI will take into account what the hon. Gentleman has said.
§ Mr. TinnDoes not my right hon. Friend agree that the deficits shown by the nationalised industries principally arise from transport and that this constitutes another strong argument for the House supporting the Transport Bill?