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Government Investments

Volume 163: debated on Wednesday 25 April 1923

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asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the names of the present holdings of the British Government in concerns registered under the Companies Acts; and will he state the total amount received on revenue account by way of interest or dividend during the period April, 1922, to April, 1923, and the aggregate market or estimated capital value of such holdings, and similarly the capital value and income on the Government's holding of Suez Canal shares?

The information which I promised to my hon. Friend in answer to his question of the 12th April is as follows:

Department.Name of Company.Particulars of Investment.Interest or Dividend (Gross) received in period 1st April, 1922, to 1st April, 1923.Present Market Value.
£s.d.£s.d.
Board of TradeBritish Dyestuffs Corporation, Ltd.850,000 £1 Preference Ordinary Shares.743,75000
850,001 £1 Preference Shares.
Turkish Petroleum Co.40,000 £1 Ordinary Shares.Not quoted.
British American Nickel Corporation (of Canada).$3,000,000 "A" Income Bonds.Not quoted.
$2,625,000 Common Stock.
Munster Flax Development Co., Ltd.£22,000 "B" Debenture Stock.Not quoted.
£11,000 "C" Debenture Stock.
Chepstow Water Co., Ltd.330 £1 Ordinary Shares2680Not quoted.
Monmouth Shipbuilding Co., Ltd£490,000 6% Mortgage14,70000—(See Note).
TreasurySuez Canal Co.160,101 Actions de Capital.919,75310419,206,334150
16,501 Actions de Jouissance.
Cunard Steamship, Ltd.£650,000 Debenture Stock.21,012211687,40000
1 £20 Ordinary Share
Anglo Persian Oil Co., Ltd.5,000,000 £1 Ordinary Shares.820,0300021,281,05900
1,000 £1 Preference Shares.
£199,000 Debenture Stock.
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.Home Grown Sugar, Ltd.250,000 5s. Ordinary Shares.70,00000
£124,950 Second Mortgage.
Flax Cultivation, Ltd.£331,000 First Mortgage.
Wessex Flax Factories, Ltd.£32,000 First Mortgage25000
Disposal and Liquidation Commission.British Cellulose & Manufacturing Co., Ltd.£500,000 7½% Cumulative Participating Preference Shares.400,00000
Foreign Office.Commercial Bank of Siberia.45,263 Ordinary SharesNot quoted.
NOTE.—In addition the Board of Trade hold 300,000 £1 ordinary shares (fully paid) and 300,000 £1 ordinary shares (5s. paid) in the Standard Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., Ltd., and two subsidiary companies. These shares are of nominal value only as the entire assets and liabilities of the companies are vested in the Shipping Controller, and the greater part of the physical assets have been included in the sale to the Monmouth Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. The shares do not therefore produce any income.