HC Deb 17 May 1939 vol 347 cc1418-20W
Mr. Daggar

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the profits of the companies' and local authorities' gas undertakings in Great Britain for the years 1937 and 1938, and the price paid per ton for coal, and similar particulars with regard to the generation of electricity and the production of coke?

Mr. Cross

With regard to gas undertakings, the information for 1938 is not yet available. Following are particulars in respect of 1937, but I have no information with regard to the price paid for coal.

Following is also information regarding electricity undertakings for the year

STATUTORY GAS UNDERTAKINGS.
(1) Companies.
Year. Total Capital (Share and Stock) paid up. Total Loan Capital (including debenture stock) issued. Revenue Account.
Receipts. Expenditure. Profit.
£ £ £ £ £
1937 … 102,493,895 46,694,337 49,267,296 41,469,145 7,798,151

(2) Local Authorities.
Year. Total amount of money borrowed. Total amount of loans repaid and balance in Sinking Fund. Revenue Account. Interest paid on loans, amount of loans repaid, and amount placed to Sinking Fund. Net Profit.
Receipts. Expenditure. Gross Profit.
£ £ £ £ £ £ £
1937–38* 83,960,807 57,851,884 23,386,319 19,572,682 3,813,637 3,023,469 790,168
* The financial year of the Local Authorities' undertakings runs from 1st April to 31st March.

AUTHORISED ELECTRICITY UNDERTAKINGS.
(1) Company Undertakings.
Year. Capital Expenditure at end of year. Gross Surplus. Appropriation of Gross Surplus.
Interest. Dividends. Depreciation and other purposes.
£ £ £ £ £
1937 … 223,098,040 19,640,620 3,090,888 7,605,119 8,944,613

(2) Public Authority Undertakings.
Year. Capital Expenditure at end of year. Gross Surplus. Appropriation of Gross Surplus.
Interest. Sinking Fund. Balance, other purposes.
£ £ £ £ £
1937–38 … 330,399,068 23 836,509 6,541,371 10,803,946 6,491,192
Cost of Coal.
The average cost per ton of coal and coke consumed at generating stations of all authorised undertakers during 1937–38 was 18s. 6d., this figure being inclusive of the costs of handling, preparation and ash disposal. The quantity of coke represents less than 2 per cent. of the total coal tonnage.

1937–38; the corresponding figures for the year 1938–39 are not yet available. The amount of coke and breeze produced by gas undertakings in 1937 was 12,514,000 tons.