§ Mr. Andrew MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further progress he has made with the water share offers.
§ Mr. Chris PattenSchroder's is today offering for sale 2,183 million shares in the 10 water companies, at an offer price of 240p per share. This represents 100 per cent. of the aggregate of the share capitals of the 10 companies.
At the offer price, the market capitalisation of the 10 companies will be as follows:
£ million Anglian 707 Northumbrian 157 North West 854 Severn Trent 849 Southern 393 South West 293 Thames 922 Welsh 346 Wessex 246 Yorkshire 472 Aggregate market capitalisation 5,239 Prospectuses will be available in banks and post offices from Wednesday 29 November. People who have registered with the water share information office will be sent a mini-prospectus and personalised application form. Application forms will also be published in newspapers from Wednesday 29 November. Applications have to be received by 10 am on Wednesday 6 December. Copies of the prospectus are being placed in the Library of the House today.