§ Mr. Batisteasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now make a statement on the British Telecom offer for sale.
§ Mr. PattieA pathfinder prospectus—that is, a prospectus subject to revision and without a price for the shares—is being published today and copies are in the Library of the House and the Vote Office. Preliminary registration statements are also being filed in the United States, Canada and Japan. It is the Secretary of State's intention to issue the actual prospectus on 16 November with application for shares to be returned by 28 November.