HC Deb 18 February 1991 vol 186 cc12-3W
Mr. Denzil Davies

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of takeover bid expenditure was financed(a) by shares and (b) by borrowing in the years 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990, respectively.

Mr. Norman Lamont

The available information on expenditure by United Kingdom industrial and commercial companies on acquiring United Kingdom companies for cash or shares is given in table 3 of the business bulletin "Acquisitions and Mergers within the UK"—issue 9/91. No information is available on how the cash expenditure is financed. Analyses of types of transaction in cross-border acquisitions and mergers are given in tables 3 and 5 of the business bulletin "Cross Border Acquisitions and Mergers"—issue 96/90. Analyses comparable with that for acquisitions and mergers within the United Kingdom are not available. Copies of these two business bulletins are available in the Library.

1978–79 1988–89 Thousands change Percentage
Public sector manpower (excluding nationalised industries and the armed forces): total 4,396 4,254 -142 -3.2
Civil Service manpower: total 734 574 -160 -21.8

Source:Table 7.6, Public Expenditure Analyses to 1993–94 (Cm. 1520), February 1991.