§ Mr. CrowtherTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions since 1980 expenditure has been incurred under section 3(2)(a) of the Industry Act 1980 to acquire securities of a company; and if he will give, for the last five occasions, the name of the company concerned, the sum of money involved, the date of the payment and the nature of the security acquired.
§ Mr. Douglas Hogg[holding answer 15 June 1990]: Since 1980 section 3(2)(a) of the Industry Act 1980 has been used to purchase securities on 13 occasions. The last five occasions were:
Company Sum £ million Date of payment Nature of Securities BL plc 80 17 December 1982 Ordinary shares of 50p each BL plc 110 28 March 1983 Ordinary shares of 50p each BL plc 90 1 November 1983 Ordinary shares of 50p each Rover Group plc 680 30 March 1987 Ordinary shares of 50p each Rover Group plc 547 12 August 1988 Special security ("the Instrument")