§ Mr. Neil HamiltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of companies operate(a) in the public sector and (b) in the private sector in Northern Ireland; and what steps he is taking to encourage public companies to move into the private sector.
§ Mr. StanleyAt 31 March 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, there were six public corporations operating on a commercial basis in Northern Ireland. In addition, the Government had a shareholding interest in 53 companies, representing 0.4 per cent. of the total companies incorporated in Northern Ireland and set up under the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986. It is the Government's policy to promote efficiency, increase incentives and widen share ownership, and the Government will continue to seek opportunities to maximise private sector ownership of those undertakings in which it has an interest, as commercial circumstances permit.
§ Mr. Neil HamiltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in theOfficial Report the companies which have been privatised in Northern Ireland since May 1979.
§ Mr. StanleyThere have not been any.