HL Deb 24 July 2000 vol 616 cc9-10WA
Lord Shore of Stepney

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In which companies, since 1980, the Government have held a golden share; and in which companies they still hold a golden share. [HL 3296]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

Government Special shares in the following companies have expired or been redeemed since 1980:

  • The 12 Regional Electricity Companies in England and Wales
  • The 10 privatised water and sewerage companies in England and Wales
  • National Grid Company plc
  • BT plc
  • British Technology Group
  • Mersey Docks and Harbour Company
  • British Steel
  • Amersham International
  • BritOil Enterprise Oil
  • Jaguar
  • AEA Technology

We believe that this is a complete list, although there is a possibility of omissions given the long time period covered by the question.

The Government still hold Special shares in the following companies:

  • Cable & Wireless plc
  • Stena Line Ltd
  • BAE SYSTEMS
  • Rolls-Royce plc
  • VSEL Ltd
  • BAA plc
  • Belfast International Airport Ltd
  • Viridian Group plc
  • Phoenix Natural Gas Ltd
  • National Grid Group plc
  • BG plc
  • National Power plc
  • PowerGen plc
  • Scottish Power plc
    • WA10
  • Scottish & Southern Energy plc
  • British Energy plc, with separate shares in
  • British Energy Generation Ltd
  • British Energy Generation (UK) Ltd
  • Rosyth Royal Dockyard Ltd
  • Devonport Royal Dockyard Ltd
  • UK Nirex Ltd
  • London and Continental Railways Ltd
  • Eurostar (UK) Ltd
  • Inter-Capital and Regional Rail Limited
  • CDC plc
  • PUK plc