HC Deb 02 March 1978 vol 945 cc369-70W
Mr. Grylls

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the subsidiary or associated companies of the National Enterprise Board that have signed planning agreements.

Mr. Les Huckfield

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 30th November last.

Mr. Grylls

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the number of occasions and the dates on which he met the Chairman of the National Enter

Date of Approval Consideration received by the NEB
Dunford & Elliott Ltd. 8th December 1976 £353,794
Reed & Smith (Holdings) Ltd 29th November 1977 £1,549,500
Newbury Laboratories Ltd. 10th August 1977 *
* The NEB disposed of its shareholding to its subsidiary, The Data Recording Instrument Co. Ltd. The amount of the consideration is commercially confidential.

Mr. Grylls

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects the National Enterprise Board to be in a position to apply its profits, to further its statutory purposes after allowing for interest on National Loans Fund borrowing and dividend payment on public dividend capital.

Mr. Kaufman

The Board is already in this position.

Mr. Grylls

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish figures showing the return on capital employed for the National Enterprise Board for the

prise Board for business discussions during 1977.

Mr. Les Huckfield

My right hon. Friend met frequently with the Chairman of the Board during 1977.

Mr. Grylls

asked the Secretary of State for Industry on what dates he received the National Enterprise Board's annual corporate plans for the years 1975–76 and for 1977.

Mr. Kaufman

A preliminary plan was discussed in December 1976; but until the Board had developed a sufficiently comprehensive planning capability no formal plan could be constructed. The plan for the period to end-1981 was submitted in December last.

Mr. Grylls

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the dates, name of company and the consideration received for the shares, when the National Enterprise Board has obtained his approval for the disposal of shares or stock held by it.

Mr. Kaufman

The Board has disposed of its shareholding in the following companies with the approval of my right hon. Friend:

six months ended 31st December 1977, before Her Majesty's Government interest and taxation and excluding British Leyland and Rolls-Royce, comparing the figure with the target rate of return he recently set the Board.

Mr. Les Huckfield

No; but the Board's rates of return on capital employed for the full year will be published in due course in its annual report for 1977.