Gas Council (Hansard, 6 April 1978)

§ Mr. Litterick
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report figures showing the rate of return on capital employed, earned by the Gas Council during each of the last 20 years.

§ Dr. John Cunningham
The rates of return on capital employed before allowing for interest earned by the British Gas 189W Corporation—formerly the Gas Council—are as follows:

PERCENTAGE RETURN BEFORE INTEREST

1957–58 4.1

1958–59 3.3

1959–60 3.3

1960–61 4.1

1961–62 4.4

1962–63 4.5

1963–64 5.2

1964–65 5.9

1965–66 5.4

1966–67 4.8

1967–68 3.7

1968–69 6.5

1969–70 6.5

1970–71 6.2

1971–72 7.4

1972–73 7.4

1973–74 5.6

1974–75 6.1

1975–76 8.8

1976–77 9.3

§ Mr. Litterick
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report figures showing the net surplus or deficit earned in each of the last 20 years by the Gas Council.

§ Dr. John Cunningham
The surpluses/deficits earned by the British Gas Corporation—formerly the Gas Council—since 1957–58 are as follows:

£ million

1958–59 2.8

1957–58 1.5

1959–60 -2.4

1960–61 2.0

1961–62 3.3

1962–63 4.9

1963–64 9.6

1964–65 15.2

1965–66 11.1

1966–67 3.9

1967–68 -12.9

1968–69 17.5

1969–70 12.8

1970–71 1.1^*

1971–72 17.0^*

1972–73 5.7^*

1973–74 -41.3^*

1974–75 -30.8^*

1975–76 25.1

1976–77 31.5

^*These figures exclude Government compensation for price restraint.

PERCENTAGE RETURN BEFORE INTEREST
1957–58	4.1
1958–59	3.3
1959–60	3.3
1960–61	4.1
1961–62	4.4
1962–63	4.5
1963–64	5.2
1964–65	5.9
1965–66	5.4
1966–67	4.8
1967–68	3.7
1968–69	6.5
1969–70	6.5
1970–71	6.2
1971–72	7.4
1972–73	7.4
1973–74	5.6
1974–75	6.1
1975–76	8.8
1976–77	9.3

	£ million
1958–59	2.8
1957–58	1.5
1959–60	-2.4
1960–61	2.0
1961–62	3.3
1962–63	4.9
1963–64	9.6
1964–65	15.2
1965–66	11.1
1966–67	3.9
1967–68	-12.9
1968–69	17.5
1969–70	12.8
1970–71	1.1^*
1971–72	17.0^*
1972–73	5.7^*
1973–74	-41.3^*
1974–75	-30.8^*
1975–76	25.1
1976–77	31.5
^*These figures exclude Government compensation for price restraint.