HC Deb 02 March 1983 vol 38 cc166-8W
Mr. Weetch

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will list the directors of the Britannia building society, together with their ages, dates of appointment and their professional qualifications.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

The following details are available from the documents submitted by the Britannia building society to the Registry of Friendly Societies. Because the annual return for building societies does not require disclosure of professional or academic qualifications, the particulars of membership of professional bodies may be incomplete.

Name Year of Birth Date of Appointment Business Occupation Membership of Professional Bodies
Samuel Sinclair Green 1910 1 January 1965 Building Society Director
Wallace Mortimer Morfey 1904 1 May 1974 Building Society Director
John Quipp 1916 21 April 1977 Building Society Director ACBSI
Edward William Wallaker 1913 31 December 1971 Estate Agent FSVA
Henry Alfred Warner 1913 1 May 1974 Company Director
Ronald Harry Willett 1913 1 May 1974 Chartered Surveyor FRICS
Philip Hugh Taylor 1916 Before 1 October 1960 Chartered Surveyor and Company Director FRICS

Mr. Weetch

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the last visit was made to the Britannia building society under the monitoring procedures of the Registrar of Friendly Societies.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

As I explained in my reply to a question by the hon. Member on 16 December 1982—Vol. 34, c.209–10—visits to building societies are made by staff of the Registry of Friendly Societies for a variety of reasons, but not on a regular basis as part of monitoring procedures. As a matter of public policy the timing of monitoring visits is not normally disclosed.

Mr. Weetch

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied that the special advances section of the form AR11 of the Britannia building society for the current financial year and each of the last two financial years conforms with the Building Societies Act 1962 in terms of advances made.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

The chief registrar has no reason to believe that the special advance section of the annual returns for these years have not been properly completed. But if the hon. Member has any information to this effect, perhaps he will send me details.

Mr. Weetch

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will instruct the Registrar of Friendly Societies

Analysis of refinery output and tax rates
1982 1972
Barrel analysis* (per cent.) Excise duty(pence per litre) VAT (per cent.) Barrel analysis* (per cent.) Revenue duty (pence per litre)
Gas oil 26.4 0.77 Zero-rated 22.5 0.22
Derv 13.25 15 4.95
Motor spirit 24.8 15.54 15 12.7 4.95
Fuel oil 20.5 0.77 Zero-rated 38.3 0.22
Aviation turbine fuel 5.8 0.77 Zero-rated 3.9 0.22
Naphtha 4.5 15.54 15 5.4 4.95
Bitumen 2.4 Not dutiable 15 1.9 Not dutiable
Burning oil 2.4 0.22 Zero-rated 2.4 0.22
Propane, Butane and other petroleum gases 1.9 ‡7.77 ‡15 1.7 ‡||2.47
Lubricating oils 1.3 0.77 15 1.2 0.22
Marine diesel oil 0.3 0.77 Zero-rated 1.4 0.22
Industrial and white spirit 0.1 15.54 15 0.1 4.95
Paraffin wax 0.1 Not dutiable 15 0.1 Not dutiable
Aviation spirit 01 7.77 15 Negligible 4.95
Wide cut gasoline Nil 7.77 15 0.4 4.95
Vaporising oil Nil 0.22 Zero-rated Negligible 0.22
Other 9.5 7.9
* Based on refinery output
† Post Budget
‡ When used as road fuel
|| Introduced from 3 July

to hold an inquiry into the financial connections between the Britannia building society and the property group Bernard Clarke and Partners.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

The Britannia building society has made a number of advances to companies in which Bernard Clarke and Partners have an interest. Advances to four such companies are currently outstanding, all of which are secured upon residential properties. The total balances outstanding on these advances (£502,000) represent 0.03 per cent. of the total amount outstanding on all the society's mortgages. Over 99 per cent. of the total amount advanced on mortgage by the society over the past three years was lent on dwellings wholly to be occupied by the borrowers.

No advances have been made by Britannia on the security of the St. Margaret's development in Rottingdean, Sussex. No director or other officer of Britannia has a shareholding in Bernard Clarke and Partners or in any company controlled by that company.

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