§ Mr. Thomas Coxasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the number of houses owned by the Crown Agents in the London borough of Wandsworth; how much was paid for these houses; and what rehousing was offered to the tenants who were living in these houses.
§ Lord BalnielThree houses, all in Bedford Hill, S.W.12, and acquired for conversion to hostel accommodation for the Crown Agents' junior staff. The total price paid for them was £82,150. Two houses were unoccupied, and there were three furnished tenancies in existence in the third. The only remaining tenant is expected to leave within a few days. No rehousing has been offered to these tenants by the Crown Agents, nor has any inducement to leave been offered.
§ Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the nominal and current value, respectively, of the Crown Agents' holding in Keyser Ullman Ltd.; and how much of the holding is held not on behalf of overseas principals but in the Crown Agents' own right.
§ Lord BalnielThe nominal value at 25p a share is £143,750 and the current value at a middle market price of 248p per share is £1,426,000. 440,000 shares of the total shareholding of 575,000 are not held on behalf of various overseas principals.
§ Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funds of the Crown Agents, other than their share of stock in First National Finance Corporation and Keyser Ullman Ltd., are to be made available for the rescue operation for London and County Securities.
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§ Lord BalnielI understand that the question of such a use of Crown Agents funds has not hitherto been raised.