§ Q24. Mr. Eggarasked the Prime Minister if she will take further steps to introduce competition and private capital into the existing nationalised industries.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government remain committed to privatisation as a major element in its strategy to promote efficiency, increase incentives and widen ownership. We will continue to look for opportunities to advance this. Transferring state businesses into private ownership increases business efficiency, whether through competition or in other ways; allows for employees to take a direct stake in the companies in which they work, leading to major changes in attitudes; and gives everyone the opportunity to own a real share in the nation's assets. The long-term significance of these changes cannot be over-estimated.