§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the difference in billions of pounds between the assets of those advanced gas-cooled reactors and pressurised water reactors that have been privatised and the remuneration of all kinds that the Exchequer has derived from those privatisations. [40726]
§ Mr. Page[holding answer 16 October 1996]: At the time of privatisation, British Energy had net assets of some £1.5 billion, as shown on page 87 of the British Energy share offer prospectus. Proceeds from the sale of British Energy, including the repayment of debt but excluding the value of the remaining shares held by the Secretary of State on behalf of the Government, will be some £1.8 billion. Further proceeds will be generated by the future sale of the retained shares in British Energy, which have a value of about £180 million at the issue price.