HC Deb 28 July 1980 vol 989 cc477-8W
Mr. Stuart Holland

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what proportion of the net increase in borrowing from Government and capital transfer was represented by the nine major nationalised industries, British Airways, British Gas, the British Steel Corporation, the electricity industry, the Post Office, the National Bus Company, the National Freight Corporation, British Railways and the National Coal Board in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979; and what proportion of the net increase in other borrowing was represented by these industries in these years;

(2) what has been the annual rate of price increase of the United Kingdom nationalised industries and services, including the National Enterprise Board subsidiaries, since 1974 in relation to the annual rate of price increase of private industry and services, respectively;

(3) what has been the net contribution of the nationalised industries to the Exchequer and the reduction of the public sector borrowing requirement, respectively, since 1974.

(4) what has been the cost of the nationalised industries to the public sector borrowing requirement since 1974.

Mr. Biffen

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.