HC Deb 10 March 1966 vol 725 cc654-6W
Sir H. Legge-Bourke

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contribution from Government funds he proposes to make to the nationalised industries within his responsibility in respect of current deficit and capital account, respectively, for each of the next five years; and what were the comparable figures for each of the last 10 years.

NET EXCHEQUER LOANS FOR CAPITAL PURPOSES
£million
1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1955–59 1959–60
MINISTRY OF POWER
National Coal Board* 94.0 11.2 97.0 87.3 113.1
Electricity Council 148.0 117.1 128.2 189.6
Gas Council 24.0 31.0 22.8 25.8
MINISTRY OF AVIATION
British Overseas Airways Corporation 9.9 31.2 24.2 6.6
British European Airways 7.1 9.0 5.6 10.4
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT
British Transport Commission† 70.0 65.2 111.5 110.5
British Railways Board
London Transport Board
British Transport Docks Board
British Waterways Board
Transport Holding Company
1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65
MINISTRY OF POWER
National Coal Board* 2.3 23.9 −25.0 −18.5 33.1
Electricity Council 153.3 191.2 192.3 250.0 317.0
Gas Council 19.6 12.6 20.9 68.8 49.8
MINISTRY OF AVIATION
British Overseas Airways Corporation 20.1 11.1 11.5 4.5 5.0
British European Airways 11.8 21.6 3.7 0.7 1.7
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT
British Transport Commission† 145.0 124.6 64.2
British Railways Board 20.0
London Transport Board 7.3 13.0
British Transport Docks Board
British Waterways Board 0.5 0.6
Transport Holding Company
EXCHEQUER GRANTS TO MEET DEFICITS
£million
1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60
British Transport Commission
British Railways Board
British Waterways Board
1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65
British Transport Commission 104.8 152.9 134.4
British Railways Board 20.0 126.5 119.4
British Waterways Board 0.1 1.3 1.6
* Under the Coal Industry Act 1965 £415 million of the Board's debt at 28th March, 1965 was written off.
† Under the Transport Act 1962 accumulated revenue losses of the Commission totalling £486.9 million were written off. The Exchequer received from the Commission cash and investments to the book value of £54.8 million.
‡ Prior to the Finance Act 1956 capital was normally raised by the issue of stock.

Mr. Diamond

The following tables show, for each of the nationalised industries within the responsibilities of the Ministers of Power, Aviation and Transport:

  • (a) Net Exchequer advances for capital purposes
  • (b) Exchequer grants to meet deficits on current account.

Forecasts of advances and grants in future years will be published shortly in the annual Loans from the Consolidated Fund White Paper.