§ Mr. Ian TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many employees subscribed for shares in the privatisation of the electricity distribution companies.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryAbout 84,000 employees and 21,000 pensioners of the 12 regional electricity companies, the National Grid Company and the Electricity Association applied for and received shares. Between them they were allocated almost 160 million shares, representing about 7.4 per cent. of the total equity of the 12 regional electricity companies.