HC Deb 20 February 1981 vol 999 cc240-2W
Mr. Grylls

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish for each year since 1970 (a) a table showing for each of the nationalised industries and publicly owned companies their annual surpluses or deficits after tax, interest and extraordinary items, and (b) list separately for each of these nationalised industries and publicly owned companies sums written off and extraordinary items, and, express all these sums in (a) and (b) in (i) constant and (ii) current prices.

Mr. Brittan

The information in respect of all the publicly owned companies is not readily available in the form requested and cannot be provided without disproportionate expenditure of time and resources. Details of Government shareholdings are given in supplementary statements to the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund accounts and a monthly list of National Enterprise Board shareholdings is deposited with the House Library.

Following is the information in respect of the nationalised industries for the years 1975–76 to 1979–80 (1970–71 to 1980–81 in the case of debt written-off). Details in respect of the period before 1975–76 are not readily available in the form requested, except for debt written off, and cannot be provided without disproportionate expenditure of time and resources.

1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80
British Airports Authority 8.6 (1.2) 6.9 18.3 23.0
British Shipbuilders† (120.2) (75.2) (152.3)
1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
British Railways Boardt† 9.2 7.9 35.4 7.7 (0.4)
British Transport Docks Board 1.3 9.3 9.6 8.5 7.1
British Waterways Board† ‡(l3.4) ‡(14.9) ‡(16.2) ‡(20.0) ‡(22.3)
National Freight Company† (52.1) ‡(22.8) ‡(12.4) ‡0.4 2.1
National Bus Company (31.9) 6.6 12.6 21.4 6.4
Scottish Transport Group† (5.5) (1.3) 1.3 0.8 (0.4)
British National Oil Corporation (1.9) (2.5) (3.6) 14.1
British Aerospace 38.5 34.5 42.5
* As shown in the annual reports and accounts of the industries. After depreciation (including, where applicable, supplementary depreciation as charged in the Accounts), interest and grants for specific purposes (see note (†)) and, where applicable, extraordinary items, minority interests and taxation. Before, where applicable, special grants to meet deficits on revenue account (see note (‡)), compensation for price restraint (see note (**)) and dividend on public dividend capital.
† Including grants for specific purposes.
‡ Excluding special deficit grant.
** Excluding compensation for price restraint.
Nationalised Industries Capital debt and revenue deficits written off
£ million
1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81
National Coal Board* 449.6
National Coal Boardt† 1,206
British Steel Corporation* 200 150
British Steel Corporation† 579 402
Post Office* 130.6 46.8 16.7
Post Officet† 350 114 28
British Airways Board* 160
British Airways Board† 135
British Railways Board* 188.7
British Railways Board† 388
National Freight Company* 53.1 100
National Freight Company† 62 85
* Current prices.
£ million † 1980 survey prices.
Nationalised Industries Extraordinary items (Net)*
£ million
1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80
National Coal Board† 6.3 (0.7) (0.2) (0.3)
National Coal Board‡ 10.4 (1.0) (0.3) (0.4)
British Steel Corporation† (1,239.0)
British Steel Corporation‡ (1,239.0)
British Airports Authority† 1.0
British Airports Authority‡ 1.7
British Shipbuilders† (12.1) (42.6)
British Shipbuilders‡ (14.2) (42.6)
1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
British Railways Board† 66.3 35.2 (2.7) (0.1) (1.8)
British Railways Board‡ 111.4 52.4 (3.5) (0.1) (1.9)
British Transport Docks Board† 0.7
British Transport Docks Board‡ 1.0
National Freight Company† (5.0) (1.3)
National Freight Company‡ (8.4) (1.9)
Scottish Transport Group† (0.5)
Scottish Transport Group‡ (0.5)
* As shown in the annual reports and accounts of the industries.
† Current prices.
‡ 1980 survey prices.

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