§ Q3. Mr. Lathamasked the Prime Minister whether she will now review progress to date on introducing private capital, including private equity shareholding, into the nationalised industries; and whether she is now able to announce fresh proposals in this regard.
§ The Prime MinisterApart from the successful sale of British Aerospace, we are considering an offer for the National Freight Corporation, and have directed the sale of Wytch Farm by the British Gas Corporation. We have legislated to introduce private capital into British Airways, and further legislation is currently before the House to permit the privatisation of Cable and Wireless, some of British Telecom's peripheral activities, the British Transport Docks Board and major British Rail subsidiaries, and we shall as a matter of priority reintroduce legislation in the next Session to enable the public to hold an equity stake in the British National Oil Corporation. We shall continue to examine the possibilities.