§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of debt written off in privatisations since 1984; and if he will list the figures by company and type of debt. [34642]
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 14 July 1995]: It is common practice for capital restructuring to be undertaken where necessary before privatisation. For some privatisations, debt is written off, for others debt is injected. The table shows the debt written off, and the type of debt concerned, and debt injected for each company privatised where either occurred. Debts shown as written off include all debt written off since 1984 in companies subsequently privatised.
amendment to primary legislation and, having done so, reach the view that it would remove or reduce a burden and that it would not remove any necessary protection. "Necessary protection" is not defined in the Act but could include, for example, protection for consumers or for the environment. All proposed orders will be scrutinised by the deregulation committee and the House of Lords Delegated Powers Scrutiny Committee, which will report on whether they share the Minister's view that no necessary protection would be removed by the proposed amendment. Following the period of special parliamentary scrutiny, the Minister has to consider any 1047W representations made, including by both committees, before bringing forward a draft order subject to affirmative resolution.