asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of (a) subsidies, compensation and other payments and (b) capital debts and revenue deficits written off, in the nationalised industries since 1945.

Following is the information:

(a) £6933 million;

(b) £3834 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reduction in employment levels he expects in the nationalised industries (a) in the current year and (b) next year, consequent upon the recent White Paper on public expenditure.

Questions on levels of employment are for the industries themselves. The recent White Paper on public expenditure included estimates of the aggregate external financing needs of the industries in the current and next financial years, and limits on each industry's external financing in the next financial year were announced on 16 November. The effect of an industry's external financing limit on employment depends on a number of factors, including the level of pay increases.