§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all shareholdings currently held by Her Majesty's Government, together with an approximate market value for each where this is available. [96403]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe information is shown in the table. This shows the nominal values of government shareholdings held at 31 March 1999, as reported to the Treasury, excluding shares held for possible distribution as bonus shares to eligible shareholders. An approximate market value, based on their closing prices on 31 March 1999, is also shown for those of the shares quoted on the London Stock Exchange. This information is not available in other cases, either because the assets held are not marketable or because a market value could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.
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Government shareholdings at 31 March 1999 £ Department/description of holding Nominal value Approximate market value National Grid Group plc: £1 Special Rights Redeemable Preference Share 1 n/a National Power plc: £1 Special Rights Redeemable Preference Share 1 n/a Nuclear Electric plc: £1 Ordinary Share 1 n/a PowerGen plc: £1 Special Rights Redeemable Preference Share 1 n/a Rolls Royce Ltd.: £1 Special Share 1 n/a United Kingdom Nirex Ltd.: £1 Special Share 1 n/a HM Treasury Bank of England: Capital Stock 14,553,000 n/a BAA plc: £1 Ordinary Shares 660 4,500 British Airways plc: 120 25p Ordinary Shares 30 500 British Energy: Bonds 2003 101,923,000 n/a Bonds 2006 144,291,000 n/a Bonds 2016 105,407,000 n/a British Telecommunications plc: 10.705.164 25p Ordinary Shares 2,676,291 108.2 million National Power plc: 50p Ordinary Shares 389,381 3.7 million PowerGen plc: 50p Ordinary Shares 678,710 9.3 million Railtrack Ltd.: Bonds 2006 694,000 n/a Bonds 2016 516,000 n/a Scottish Power plc: Bonds 2001 142,000,000 n/a