§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) on what date the budget for advertising the flotation of the electricity distribution companies was agreed;
(2) what is the budget for advertising the flotation of the electricity distribution companies; and what proportion is to be spent on (a) television, (b) radio, (c) newspaper and (d) other advertising.
§ Mr. WakehamTotal costs will depend on the media rates achieved and advertising volumes. The full costs of the privatisation, including advertising costs, will be made available to Parliament in the normal way.
§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the dates, venues and estimated cost of the electricity privatisation roadshow.
§ Mr. WakehamThe dates and venues of the proposed United Kingdom roadshows for the regional electricity companies share offers are:
Venue 5 November 1990 Plymouth, London 6 November 1990 Bristol, Ipswich, Swansea 7 November 1990 Bournemouth, Edinburgh 8 November 1990 Cardiff, Nottingham, Peterborough 9 November 1990 Leicester, Sheffield, Southhampton 12 November 1990 Brighton, Glasgow, Stoke on Trent 13 November 1990 Ashford, Birmingham, Preston 14 November 1990 Aberystwyth, Belfast, Middlesbrough 15 November 1990 Manchester, Liverpool 16 November 1990 Newcastle 19 November 1990 Leeds Provisional plans for overseas roadshows include seven in Europe, eight in north America and two in Japan; final decisions on the dates and location of overseas roadshows will be taken shortly.
It is too early to make a reliable forecast of the cost of the roadshow programme for the 12 regional electricity companies share offers until these and other decisions have been taken. The full costs of privatisation, including the roadshow programme, will be made available to Parliament in the normal way.
§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his current estimate of the total brokers' fees for the flotation of the electricity distribution companies.
§ Mr. WakehamThe Department's contract with brokers is commercially sensitive and it is the Government's established practise not to reveal such information. The full costs of the privatisation will be made available to Parliament in the normal way.
955W
§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what companies have been or are advising him on electricity privatisation in addition to those listed in his answer to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras on 5 February,Official Report, columns 454–58.
§ Mr. WakehamSince I last replied on 2 July 1990 at columns429–30, the following additional companies have been appointed to advise the Department on electricity privatisation:
- Henry Butcher—Property valuers
- Lloyd Northover—Design consultants
- J. Henry Schroder Wagg—Possible trade sale of PowerGen
- J. Chiene—Pricing adviser
- J. Henry Schroder Wagg—Lead underwriter