§ Mr. DAGGARasked the Minister of Transport whether he will give the profits of the companies' and local authorities' gas undertakings in Great Britain for the years 1934 and 1935, and the price paid per ton for coal; and similar particulars with regard to the generation of electricity and the production of coke?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAFollowing is the information:
A.Authorised Electricity Undertakings.
The latest year for which complete returns are available is 1933 in the case of companies and 1933–34 in the case of authorities:
— Companies 1933. Authorities 1933–34. £ £ Capital expenditure at end of year. 168,717,813* 256,649,687 Gross Surplus 14,262,313 21,545,665 Appropriation of Gross Surplus: Interest 2,508,942 6,613,098 Dividends 5,886,922 — Sinking Fund — 8,339,773 Depreciation and other purposes. 5,866,449 — Balance, other purposes. 6,592,794 £14,262,313 £21,545,665 * Exclusive of expenditure on a Company undertaking which was transferred to the Local Authority after December, 1933 but before 31st March, 1934, the purchase price of such Undertaking being included in the figure for Public Authorities. Coal.—The average cost in 1933–34 per ton of coal and coke used in the generating stations of all authorised undertakers was 14s. 9d. This figure (as have been the corresponding figures in previous returns) is inclusive of the costs of handling, preparation and ash disposal. The amount of coke represents less than 3 per cent. of the total coal tonnage.
B. Statutory Gas Undertakings.
The following information has been furnished by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade:
34WThe latest year for which figures are available is 1934 in the case of companies and 1934–35 in the case of authorities.
Corresponding figures for 1935 and 1935–36 will not be available for a considerable time:
— Companies. 1934. Authorities. 1934–35. £ £ Total Capital (share and stock) paid up. 95,304,807 — Total Loan Capital (including debenture stock) issued. 39,970.536 — Total amount of money borrowed. — 79,421,964 Total amount of loans repaid and balance in Sinking Fund. — 51,800,112 Revenue Account: Receipts 44,298,829 21,014,933 Expenditure 37,013,510 17,067,905 Profit 7,285,319 — Gross Profit — 3,947,028 Appropriation of Gross Profit: Interest paid on loans, amount of loans repaid and amount placed to Sinking Fund. — 3,298,838 Net Profit — 648,190 £3,947,028