§ Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Minister of Power if he will tabulate in the Official Report the value of the total capital tied up in the Gas Council for gas manu- 44W facture, the importation of natural gas, distribution and for investments in subsidiary and associated companies, manufacture and engineering on 31st March, 1966, stating turnover and profit in the preceding year, number employed, and return on net worth expressed as a percentage, respectively, for each activity, and in total.
§ Mr. MarshThe net fixed capital employed in the gas industry is set out in Appendix I, Summary Statement No. III of the Gas Council's Report and Accounts for 1965–66. An analysis of the net capital investment since Vesting day (1–5–49) is given in the Appendix I, Summary Schedule No. 16. Numbers employed are analysed in Appendix III, Section B. Income and expenditure as pence per therm sold are given in Appendix I, Summary Schedule No. 11 but, as receipts from gas sales cover all stages in the supply of gas, it is impracticable to allocate turnover and profits between manufacture and distribution. For information on the investments of the Gas Council and Area Gas Boards, I would refer the Hon. Member to their published accounts.
§ Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Minister of Power what was the value of the capital investment undertaken by the Gas Council in the year ended 31st March, 1966; how much of this was purchased through outside contractors, manufacturers, and suppliers; and how much was installed, manufactured and erected by the appropriate departments of the Gas Council.
§ Mr. MarshCapital expenditure by the Gas Boards in the year ended 31st March, 1966, was £119 million. I understand from the Gas Council that payments to outside contractors, manufacturers and suppliers accounted for about 87 per cent. of this.