§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of change in the average percentage dividends paid by industrial and commercial companies to their shareholders in(a) 1994 and (b) 1995. [17423]
§ Mrs. Angela KnightInformation on payments of dividends by industrial and commercial companies are published in the Central Statistical Office's "First Release—Quarterly National Accounts", and in the CSO publications, "UK Economic Accounts" and "Financial Statistics". These are available from the Library of the House. The latest seasonally adjusted data from 1994 and 1995 for industrial and commercial companies' dividends payments in pounds million, and dividends payments as a percentage of industrial and commercial companies gross trading profits, including stock appreciation, are as follows:
Dividends payments (excluding payments to overseas parents) As a percentage of industrial and commercial companies' gross trading profits 1994 Q1 4,771 20.7 1994 Q2 5,801 23.2 1994 Q3 5,926 22.9 1994 Q4 6,177 22.6 1995 Q1 6,647 25.0 1995 Q2 6,140 22.1 1995 Q3 6,612 24,3 Data for 1995 Q4 will be published on 26 March 1996.
Additionally, table 7.1G of the CSO publication "Financial Statistics" contains dividend yields.