HC Deb 26 February 1997 vol 291 cc236-7W
Mr. Milburn

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost has been of advertising each privatisation since 1979. [17642]

Mr. Jack

[holding answer 25 February 1997]: The table shows the cost to the Government of advertising in each privatisation or secondary sale since British Telecom, in 1984. The overall cost represents 0.29 per cent. of aggregate proceeds from these sales. Information on advertising costs of earlier sales is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Advertising costs in privatisations
Share offer Year Costs (ex VAT) £ million
BT1 1985 9.7
Britoil 1985 3.0
Cable and Wireless 1985 2.2
British Aerospace 1985 1.7
British Gas 1986 21.4
British Airways 1987 2.8
Rolls Royce 1987 1.6
BAA 1987 4.9
BP 1987 18.3
British Steel 1988 4.9
Water 1989 17.3
Regional Electricity Companies 1990 20.6
Generating Companies 1 1991 8.1
Scottish Electricity Companies 1991 5.3
BT2 1991 14.7
Northern Ireland Electricity 1993 1.1
BT3 1993 11.9
Generating Companies 2 1995 8.0
Railtrack 1996 4.4
British Energy 1996 4.1