§ Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of his Department's expenditure for 1981–82 in support of public sector industry and private sector industry, respectively.
§ Mr. Lawson:The latest estimate of my Department's expenditure for 1981–82 in support of public and private sector industry in the United Kingdom is £616 million and £76 million respectively. All but £9 million of the £616 million goes to the coal industry: It includes £236 million arising from the announcement by my predecessor in the House of Commons on 16 June 1981 of an increase in the National Coal Board's external financing limit from £886 million to £1,117 million and in the level of grants to be paid to the NCB. The increase in grants is within this revised external financing limit, and is subject to the necessary legislation and approval of Supplementary Estimates.