HC Deb 26 February 1990 vol 168 c23W
Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applicants for water shares had their cheques cashed and have not received their shares.

Mr. Trippier

As at Friday 23 February, the receiving banks for the water share offers were dealing with about 750 requests for replacement interim share certificates.

Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the basis on which applications for water shares by small investors were scaled down.

Mr. Trippier

Full details of the scaling down of applications by customers receiving preference, and by others, were published in the national press on 12 December. Each of the 10 offers was substantially oversubscribed, and this necessitated scaling down of most applications. Allocations favoured applicants for the lowest denominations and, among those applicants, preference was given to qualified customers.

Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish a list of the major shareholders in the water industry.

Mr. Trippier

The registers of holders of interim rights in the water plcs are open to inspection. In addition, it is a requirement of the Companies Act that persons having an interest in 5 per cent. or more shares in any plc must give details of their interest to the company, and this information is open to public inspection.