HC Deb 13 March 1989 vol 149 cc19-20W
Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total sum paid out in fees to outside organisation in the furtherance of privatisation by his Department in 1979–80 and each year to date; and what is the estimate for 1989–90.

Mr. Parkinson

Total expenditure on fees paid to outside organisations in relation to the privatisation of Amersham Interntional, Britoil and Enterprise Oil could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost. Fees paid to outside organisations in the case of the privatisation of British Gas and in the preparation for the privatisation of the electricity supply industry in England and Wales are:

£ million
British Gas ESI
1985–86 1.4
1986–87 162.4
1987–88 10.5 0.8
11988–89 9.7 6.0
21989–90 0.3 27.0
1 Estimated outturn.
2 Current estimate.