§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total sum paid out in fees to outside organisations in the furtherance of privatisation by the Treasury in 1979–80 and each year to date; and what is the estimate for 1989–90.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe gross expenses incurred by Her Majesty's Treasury in connection with the sale of shares in Cable and Wireless and British Petroleum were as follows:
Thousands 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1987–88 £ £ £ £ British Petroleum 22,108 656 — — Cable and Wireless 12,011 440 — — Cable and Wireless — — 21,400 — British Petroleum — — — 1146,707 1 Excluding subscription for new shares and expenses of the Bank of England share purchase arrangement. These expenses include fees paid to outside organisations, but those fees could be identified separately only at disproportionate cost. Any costs incurred by Her Majesty's Treasury in connection with the privatisation programme in 1989–90 will be announced in due course in the usual way.