§ 14. Mr. Penhaligonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the individual nationalised industries and their respective assets that combine to produce the £90 billion referred to in his speech on the address, Official Report 13 November, column 585.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe electricity supply, gas and water industries account for about four fifths of nationalised industry aggregate current cost net asset values. We shall continue to return businesses to the private sector in accordance with our stated and highly beneficial policy.
§ Mr. PenhaligonHow much of the £90 billion does the Minister regard as saleable, and for how much?
§ Mr. MacGregorIt has already been made clear in the autumn statement that over the next three years we estimate the proceeds of privatisation to be £4¾ billion each year. We have already announced plans for British Gas, British Airways and the British Airports Authority. It is clear that these policies are sensible and right, for a wide variety of reasons.