§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many widows have been disqualified from the right to the allocation of free Abbey National shares as a consequence of the terms of section 116 of the Building Societies Act 1962; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lilley[holding answer 17 July 1989]The building societies legislation does not lay down those to whom shares will be allocated or sold on a change to plc status. These are commercial decisions properly taken by the board of the organisation and the information sought is not currently available.