§ Mr. Beithasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications for the Government's policy on the spread of shareholdings of the incidence of dealings in shares of newly privatised companies on the Stock Exchange before letters of allotment have been sent out; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[pursuant to the reply, 13 February 1987]: Arrangements for initial dealings in the shares of newly privatised companies are looked at in the circumstances of each case. The practical issues which need to be taken into account include the time needed to process large numbers of applications and the importance of allowing dealings on the stock exchange to begin as soon as possible.