HC Deb 16 November 1979 vol 973 cc823-4W
Mr. Kenneth Lewis

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what limits have been set on the external financing of the nationalised industries for the financial year 1980–81.

Mr. Biffen

The limits are as follows:

Nationalised Industries' External Financing Limits 1980–811
£ million
National Coal Board 834
Electricity Council and Boards 187
North of Scotland Hydroelectric Board 59
South of Scotland Electricity Board 73
British Gas Corporation -400
British National Oil Corporation 101
British Steel Corporation 450
Post Office 652
British Airways Board 230
British Airports Authority 20
British Railways Board 750
British Transport Docks Board -10
British Waterways Board 30
National Freight Corporation 24
National Bus Company 85
Scottish Transport Group 9
British Shipbuilders 120
Notes:
(1) No figure is included for British Aerospace in view of the prospect of selling shares in a successor company in 1980/81. In the case of British Airways and the National Freight Corporation limits have been set in view of the uncertainty about the timing of the proposed sales. As in the past, the forecast shown for BNOC does not represent a limit.
(2) The limit for the Post Office is set before taking account of the expected inflow of funds in 1980–81, resulting from delayed billing following
the recent industrial action by computer operators, and will be adjusted when the inflow is known accurately.