HC Deb 27 April 1965 vol 711 cc31-2W
39. Mr. Box

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish details of all stocks, shares and other securities held by Her Majesty's Government.

Mr. MacDermot

Details of these holdings are published in the annual Finance Accounts and the Departmental Appropriation Accounts. The following are particulars of the main items at 31st March, 1964:

GOVERNMENT HOLDINGS OF STOCKS, SHARES AND OTHER SECURITIES AS AT 31ST MARCH, 1964

British Petroleum Co. Ltd. £162,000,000 Ordinary Stock. £1,000 8 per cent. Cumulative First Preference Stock.

Cable and Wireless Ltd. 30,000,000 shares of £1 each.

Suez Finance Company 494,695 Capital shares of FF 100. 78,862 5 per cent. Bonds of FF 285.85.

Suez Canal Investment Trust 20 capital shares.

Cunard Steamship Co. Ltd. £66 Ordinary Stock (including £20 "Government" share).

S.B. (Realisations) Ltd. 42,050 5 per cent. redeemable cumulative Preference Shares of £1 each. 581,302 Ordinary Shares of 5s. each. 250,000 "A" Ordinary Shares of 5s. each.

Power Jets (Research and Development) Ltd. 200,000 shares of £1 each.

British Sugar Corporation 750,000 £1 shares.

Economic Presswork Ltd. 20,000 5 per cent. redeemable cumulative Preference Shares of £1 each.

Welsh Highland Light Railway Co. (in liquidation) Shareholding of £28,172.

Itabira Iron Ore Co. Ltd. (in liquidation) 61,220 First Preference Shares of £1 each. 380,000 Second Preference Shares of £1 each. 493,982 Ordinary Shares of £1 each.

Cowal Ari-Sawmilling Co. Ltd. £15,000 in the form of debentures.

Parkend Saw Mills Ltd. 500 6 per cent. cumulative preference shares of £1 each.

Brick Development Association Ltd. 1,500 shares of 1s. each. In addition to the above, various securities are held by the Acquisition of Guaranteed Securities Fund set up under the Export Guarantees Act, 1949. The face value of these securities on 31st March, 1964, was £215,025,684. The above list does not include securities in Iron and Steel companies held by the Iron and Steel Holding and Realisation Agency nor does it include securities held by certain Government Departments as collateral for loans or advances.

Dollar Portfolio The Treasury owns, through the Exchange Equalisation Account, dollar securities whose market value varies, but has recently averaged around $1,250m. It is not the practice to publish details.