§ Mr. BayleyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the effect on the public sector borrowing requirement of selling all shares still held which are listed732W in table B13 of the Consolidated Fund and national loans fund accounts 1993–94, assuming share prices were those of 24 October 1995. [40773]
§ Mr. Waldegrave[holding answer 31 October 1995]: Information on all the shares which are assets of the Consolidated Fund is not held centrally. The Treasury holdings of shares have a total value of around £1,400 million at the closing market prices of 24 October 1995. If it were possible to sell all shares at these prices, the public sector borrowing requirement would be reduced by a like amount, less the costs of sale. In practice, some of the shares could not be sold in this way because they have been retained for bonus share entitlements.
No decisions have yet been taken on the timing or method of any sales.