§ Mr. Dickensasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many public companies announced higher dividends between 20th July and 31st December 1966; how many have since rescinded the decision to pay higher dividends; how many have been granted exemption from the incomes standstill, specifying the various categories of exemption and the number of companies falling within each category.
§ Mr. CallaghanThe figures of dividends up to 24th December, 1966 are:
Unchanged 637 Reduced 300 Increased in conformity with the standstill 135 In addition 55 companies at first announced dividend increases but subsequently rescinded them; 14 dividends are still under consideration; and 14 companies increased their dividends as a result of misunderstanding the precise effects of the standstill policy in their particular cases.