§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what discussions he has had with the 12 chairmen of area electricity boards regarding the sale of their appliance retailing chains and Government participation in the receipts thereof;
(2) what policy considerations led him to exempt sales of the appliance retailing chains from the property clawback arrangements in the privatisation of the electricity distribution companies.
§ Mr. BaldryThe regional electricity company—REC—prospectus includes relevant information on the retailing businesses including the directors' view of the prospects for those businesses. I expect to get appropriate value for the taxpayer for all parts of the RECs' business on flotation and see no reason why the Government should expect to participate in any subsequent disposal of the retailing business as a going concern.