§ Mr. Shoreasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which nationalised industries and wholly or partly publicly-owned companies have been sold; what sums have been realised in each fiscal year since May 1979; and what are his plans for further sales of public enterprises in the period ahead.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweI refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Surrey, North-West (Mr. Grylls) on 19 October 1981,Official Report, c. 48–49, for disposals in the special sales of assets programme in 1979–80 and 1980–81 and to the answer given to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Mr. Beaumont Dark), on 11 May 1982, in c. 214, for disposals in the special sales of assets programme in 1981–82.
Provisions are already on the statute book or before the House to permit the privatisation of British Airways, British Transport Docks Board; the oil-producing interests of the British National Oil Corporation and certain British Rail and National Bus Company subsidiaries. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry announced on 19 July 1982, we intend to seek similar legislative power for Telecom. I am actively considering what other opportunities may exist.