Public Corporations (Hansard, 24 May 1973)

§ Mr. Meacher
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for each year 1960 to 1972, what payments were made to public corporations for tasks undertaken by them which were not in their commercial interest; and in each case which individual industries were involved.

§ Mr. Higgins
The following payments were made from public funds to the nationalised industries during the period 1966–67 to 1972–73. No payments of the type specified were made in the years 1960–61 to 1965–66.
113W

(£ million) 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73

NATIONAL FREIGHT CORPORATION

Freight sundries grant — — — 17.0 12.4 8.0 3.7

NATIONAL BUS COMPANY

Rural bus and ferry grants^* — — — — — 1.0 1.1

Grants in respect of rail replacement services† — — — — — 0.3 0.1

BRITISH WATERWAYS BOARD

Grant towards capital expenditure on bridges — — — 0.4 1.2 0.7 1.2

SCOTTISH TRANSPORT GROUP

Grant towards the deficit of David Macbrayne Ltd. in return for the provision of approved steamer and haulage services‡ — — — 0.5 0.7 0.6 0.7

Rural bus and ferry grants^* — — — — — 0.1 0.7

^*One half of the amounts shown is paid by the relevant local authority. The figures relate to calendar years.

† The figures relate to calendar years.

‡ Before 1969 the company was owned 50 per cent, by a private company. Grants of the same order were paid before this date with the approval of the Secretary of State for Scotland. The figures relate to calendar years.

§ Mr. Meacher
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a complete list of those assets which were previously part of public corporations which have been offered for sale since June 1970.

§ Mr. Higgins
A number of public corporations publish figures of sales of assets in their annual accounts, to which I would refer the hon. Member. Total figures for sales of fixed assets by the nationalised industries are included in Table 2.8 of the White Paper on Public Expenditure—Cmnd. 5178. If the hon. Member would indicate the type of assets which he has in mind I will see what further information can be provided without disproportionate cost.

(£ million)	1966–67	1967–68	1968–69	1969–70	1970–71	1971–72	1972–73
NATIONAL FREIGHT CORPORATION
Freight sundries grant	—	—	—	17.0	12.4	8.0	3.7
NATIONAL BUS COMPANY
Rural bus and ferry grants^*	—	—	—	—	—	1.0	1.1
Grants in respect of rail replacement services†	—	—	—	—	—	0.3	0.1
BRITISH WATERWAYS BOARD
Grant towards capital expenditure on bridges	—	—	—	0.4	1.2	0.7	1.2
SCOTTISH TRANSPORT GROUP
Grant towards the deficit of David Macbrayne Ltd. in return for the provision of approved steamer and haulage services‡	—	—	—	0.5	0.7	0.6	0.7
Rural bus and ferry grants^*	—	—	—	—	—	0.1	0.7
^*One half of the amounts shown is paid by the relevant local authority. The figures relate to calendar years.
† The figures relate to calendar years.
‡ Before 1969 the company was owned 50 per cent, by a private company. Grants of the same order were paid before this date with the approval of the Secretary of State for Scotland. The figures relate to calendar years.