§ 19. Mr. Yeoasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will meet the chairman of BL to discuss further public investment in the company.
§ Mr. TebbitThe chairman has not requested such a meeting.
§ 43. Mr. Roger Kingasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects BL's corporate plan to be published.
§ Mr. Norman LamontA review of BL performance in 1984 and the BL 1985 corporate plan will be placed in the Library when the Government's decisions on it are announced.
§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what has been the level of Government loans and investment in the truck divisions of British Leyland in each of the last five years;
(2) what has been the total level of Government grants and loans to British Leyland in each of the years since the acquisition by Her Majesty's Government of a majority shareholding.
§ Mr. ButcherThe information requested is as follows: 161W
Total Government Assistance for BL Financial Year Amount (£ million) Description 1975–76 46 Purchase of shares from shareholders 1975–76 200 Equity 1976–77 100 Loans (converted to equity in 1980) 1977–78 50 Loans (converted to equity in 1980) 1977–78 275 Short term loans (repaid 1978–79) 1978–79 −275 Repayment of short term loans 1978–79 450 Equity 1978–79 12 Equity for NEB stake in Wholesale Vehicle Finance Ltd. 1979–80 150 Equity 1980–81 300 Equity 1981–82 520 Equity 1982–83 370 Equity 1983–84 90 Equity 1984–85 NIL The overwhelming bulk of this money was paid as or later converted to equity in BL. It is not possible to distinguish how the funding was allocated to particular operating companies within BL.