§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will give the contribution to public funds made by the electricity industry for each year between 1979 and 1990;
(2) if he will give the contribution to public funds made by British Gas plc for each year between 1979 and privatisation;
(3) if he will give the contribution to public funds made by British Telecom for each year between 1979 and privatisation.
§ Mr. Maude[holding answer 13 December 1990]: The table sets out the external financing requirements (EFRs) of the electricity industry in Great Britain between 1979–80 and 1989–90; of British Gas between 1979–80 and 1986–87; and of British Telecom between 1980–81 and 1985–86. Nationalised industries' contribution to the public expenditure planning total is measured by their EFFts (net cash flows); a negative figure indicates a net repayment of loans or increase in deposits within the public sector.
Electricity Industries1 British Gas British Telecom 1979–80 945 -447 2— 1980–81 214 -409 -109 1981–82 -153 39 250 1982–83 -29 -230 -323 1983–84 -252 -45 -225 1984–85 850 -189 -341 1985–86 -278 -190 — 1986–87 -1,101 -684 — 1987–88 -1,132 — — 1988–89 -1,650 — — 1989–90 -1,536 — — 1 Comprises the sum of the EFLs of the electricity industry in England and Wales, the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, and the South of Scotland Electricity Board. 2 British Telecom was not constituted as a separate body until 1980–81.