§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether in the last 10 years he or his predecessors, either by direction or informally, secured changes in the accounting conventions followed by British Coal, British Gas, any electricity board, the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, British Nuclear Fuels Ltd., Nirex, Amersham International, British National Oil Corporation, Britoil or Enterprise Oil, respectively; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WakehamThe accounts of British Coal, British Nuclear Fuels, British National Oil Corporation, Britoil, Enterprise Oil, Nirex and Amersham International have been prepared under the historic cost convention throughout the period in question.
Boards in the electricity industry began producing accounts under the current cost convention from 1980–81, as did the Atomic Energy Authority from 1980–81 and British Gas from 1981–82. Previously accounts for these organisations had been prepared under the historic cost convention. The decision to prepare accounts under the current cost convention was taken by the organisations concerned, in the light of best accounting practice at the time.