HC Deb 23 February 1970 vol 796 cc243-4W
102. Mr. David Howell

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will list the private sector companies in which the Government or its agencies have acquired equity holdings since October, 1964, stating in each case the current value of these holdings and the percentage of the total equity they represent in the company concerned.

Mr. William Rodgers

Government acquisition of shareholdings in private companies since October, 1964, are given in the table below. The reports and accounts of other public bodies give information about their acquisitions.

Name of Company Current Market Value if quoted at end January, 1970 Percentage which this holding represents of the total equity issued by the Company
£
ADDITIONAL SHAREHOLDINGS
British Sugar Corporation Limited 438,280 3.75
BP Limited 64,488,000 3.5
Compagnie Financière de Suez* 3,250,000 3.0
NEW ACQUISITIONS
Beagle Aircraft Limited Unquoted 100.0
International Computers Limited† 9,275,000 10.49
Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Limited Unquoted 10.9
* These additional shares were acquired as a 1 for 5 bonus issue.
† The cost of acquisition is not yet fully paid up. The balance is due 28th September, 1972.

Note: This table excludes a number of small groups of shares held mainly by Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in mixed agricultural enterprises such as agricultural co-operatives. The total nominal value of these shares is very small.