§ Mr. LawsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the average real rate of return on capital invested in British industry over the following periods:(a) 1964–1973, (b) 1973–1979 and (c) 1979–1989.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe average net real rates of return on capital employed by United Kingdom industrial and commercial companies are estimated as follows:
Per cent. (a) 1964–73 9.9 (b) 1973–79 6.5 (c) 1979–89 8.9 The figure for each year may be found in the Central Statistical Office Bulletin 70/91, a copy of which is in the Library.
Debt written oft prior to privatization Privatisation Amount £ Type of debt British Aerospace 60,000,000 Public Dividend Capital National Freight Corporation1 100,000,000 National Loans Fund British Transport Docks Board2 81,293,616 National Loans Fund British Telecommunications 2,789,865,772 National Loans Fund British Airways 160,000,000 Fund Public Dividend Capital BAA 43,503,340 National Loans Fund British Steel 500,000,000 Public Dividend Capital British Steel 3,480,000,000 Borrowing under Iron and Steel Act 1982 Water Holding Companies 4,973,332,672 National Loans Fund Water Holding Companies 55,013,916 Public Works Loan Board Scottish Electricity Companies3 1,043,573,600 National Loans Fund 1 Privatised as National Freight Consortium (now NFC). 2 Privatised as Associated British Ports. 3 Prior to privatisation, National Loans Fund debt due to the South of Scotland Electricity Board nuclear programme of £1,368,390,398 was transferred to Scottish Nuclear Ltd. and subsequently written off.