HC Deb 19 October 1998 vol 317 cc1034-5W
Mr. Ruane

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the advertising budget for each of the privatisations since 1979. [54542]

Mr. Byers

I have been asked to reply.

The table shows the cost to the Government of advertising in each privatisation or secondary sale since British Telecom in 1984. Information on advertising budgets and advertising costs of earlier sales is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Advertising costs in privatizations
Share offer Year Costs (excl. VAT) £ million
BT1 1985 9.7
Britoil 1985 3.0
Cable & Wireless 1985 2.2

Advertising costs in privatisations
Share offer Year Costs (excl. VAT) £ million
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