§ Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Minister of Power if he will tabulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT, giving the cost, each acquisition by the National Coal Board of subsidiary companies, whether fully-owned or partly-owned, not directly concerned with the supply of coal and the distribution of coal during the last financial year, and to date during the current 4W year; and what amount has been budgeted for this purpose in future years.
§ Mr. GunterI understand there have been no such acquisitions. It is not the Board's practice to publish estimates of expenditure in future years.
§ Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Minister of Power if he will tabulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the capital expenditure incurred by each fully-owned and each partly-owned subsidiary of the National Coal Board not directly concerned with the supply of coal, and the distribution of coal, during the last financial year and to date during the current year, respectively, and in total; and what amount has been budgeted for this purpose in future years.
§ Mr. GunterThe accounts of wholly-owned subsidiaries are consolidated with the Board's accounts and capital expenditure is included with that on similar activities of the Board as a whole. For information about the assets of companies in which the Board has an equity holding of 50 per cent. or more I would refer the hon. Member to the companies' accounts which are placed in the Library. It is not the Board's practice to publish estimates of capital expenditure in future years.