§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how many complaints were received by or concerning the electricity share information office in relation to the privatisation of the electricity supply industry in England and Wales;
(2) what is the total number of complaints received on share allocations in the privatisation of (a) the regional electricity companies and (b) the generating companies of England and Wales by his Department and by the electricity share information office.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThe records kept by the electricity share information office—SIO—were designed to enable telephoned or written inquiries of all types to be dealt with readily, rather than to enable one type subsequently to be distinguished from another on a statistical basis. It would entail disproportionate expense to conduct a precise analysis now. However, my Department estimates that the written complaints received following the share allocations were equivalent to about one in 5,000 of the number of applications received in both offers. Only a small percentage of these made any complaint about the SIO itself.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what was the total cost of operating the electricity share information office for the purpose of privatising(a) the distribution companies and (b) the generating companies of England and Wales;
(2) what was the total estimated cost of the electricity share information service in each of the past two financial years; and in what way its staff contracts will expire or be terminated.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThe cost to Government of setting up and operating the electricity share information office in respect of the privatisation of the electricity industry in England and Wales was zero in 1989–90 and 12.8 million in 1990–91. It is not meaningful to apportion this between the offers for sale of the regional electricity companies and the generating companies since the principal facilities, including the initial register, were used for both flotations.
My Department contracted the project management of the office to Kleinwort Benson Limited, which was responsible for its day-to-day staffing and operation.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to receive the next report from Touche Ross on the detection of multiple share application fraud in the privatisation of the electricity supply industry.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryMy officials are in regular contact with Touche Ross on the subject of multiple applications and fraud. I expect to receive a report from Touche Ross covering both electricity sales in England and Wales towards the end of this year.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has had from stockbrokers 409W employed on the privatisation of the electricity supply industry concerning delayed payment of fees or commissions
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryI refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question on 6 June. Since that reply four more stock brokers have made inquiries.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had with the chairman of the 12 regional electricity companies and the two fossil-fuelled generating companies of England and Wales concerning the completion of payments of fees and commissions to stockbroking firms employed in the privatisation of the electricity supply industry.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThe companies have no locus in either the fees payable to the Government's stockbrokers or the commissions payable to stockbroking firms in respect of selling commissions.