HC Deb 14 July 1978 vol 953 cc842-4W
Mr. Grylls

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the up-to-date shareholdings of the National Enterprise Board on 11th July, giving details of the type of shares and percentage of shares held, the cost of such shares and the Stock Exchange value of such shares where applicable; and if he will list the activities of each company.

Mr. Les Huckfield

The replies I gave the hon. Member on 13th February—[Vol 944, c.50–5]—6th March—[Vol. 945, c. 466]—and 19th June—[Vol. 952, c. 98–100]—require to be amended as follows to cover shareholdings announced by the NEB up to 11th July:

Company Type of share Number held by N.E.B. Percentage of nominal value of total equity held by N.E.B. Cost (£000) Stock Exchange quotation (closing price 11th July) where available
Automation & Technical Services (Holdings) Ltd £1 ordinary 45,000 3.00 50
£1 redeemable 100,000 Not equity 100
preference
Barrow Hepburn Group Ltd 25p ordinary 1,000,000 4.1 450 29p
B.L. Ltd 50p ordinary 246,490,683 98.9 246,491 23p
50p ordinary 898,063,343 269,419
(30p paid)
Brown Boveri Kent Ltd 25p ordinary 10,856,585 20.0 3,293 51½p
Computer and Systems Engineering Ltd 5p ordinary 349,750 49.9 882
£1 convertible 15,200 Not equity 48
redeemable preference
I.C.L. Ltd £1 ordinary 8,148,750 24.4 12,134 302p
Pitcraft Ltd The N.E.B. has sold its shareholding to Booker McConnell Ltd.
Thwaites & Reed Ltd £1 ordinary 425,000 94.8 425

The activities of the companies in which the N.E.B. has a shareholding are set out in the N.E.B.'s 1977 report and Accounts laid before the House on 4th May 1978.