§ Mr. Rostasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest estimate of subsidies to the nationalised industries and public corporations in the current financial year; how this compares with the figure budgeted for in March; and how it compares with subsidies provided in each of the three previous financial years.
§ Mr. Joel Barnett, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 4th November 1974; Vol. 880, c. 51], gave the following information:
We are reviewing the estimates of revenue support for nationalised industries in respect of 1974–75, and the House will be given further information when this review is completed. In his Budget Statement of 26th March the Chancellor said that we then expected to support nationalised industries by about £500 million in 1974–75.
137WPayments to the nationalised industries, other than those payments available to industry generally, in the three previous financial years were £203 million in 1971–72, £210 million in 1972–73 and £509 million in 1973–74.