asked the Minister of Transport what steps are being taken to prepare for the sale of the National Freight Corporation; and if he will make a statement.

I intend to transfer the National Freight Corporation to the private sector at the earliest practicable date. For a number of reasons, and in particular the need to complete a full actuarial assessment of the corporation's pension funds, I am advised that the earliest a flotation would be practicable is in the early part of 1981.To this end I intend, with the agreement of my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to make an order under section 45 of the Transport Act 1980 appointing a day at the beginning of October for the transfer of the undertaking of the corporation to the National Freight Company Limited, which was formed and registered for this purpose on 30 June 1980, and also for the simultaneous dissolution of the National Freight Corporation.By removing the constraints of nationalised status under the Transport Act 1968, this step will enable the NFC to make the most of the wider commercial opportunities that will be available to it as a company with widely drawn memorandum and articles of association. While the company remains in the public sector I shall of course continue to exercise financial controls over investment and borrowings similar to those which now apply to the corporation. I shall be considering how this might best be done. During the period of 100 per cent. Government ownership the company will continue to have a published external financing limit within which it must operate. I have no doubt that this change to the company status is the surest way to safeguard the future prosperity of the undertaking as a whole, and of its employees.The precise timing of the sale must of course depend on market conditions. An interim period of operation as a limited company before flotation will enable the new board, its managers and work force to adjust to the new conditions, and will also assist potential investors to assess their performance.I have also concluded that it would be wrong to burden the new company with fixed debt to the Government. The outstanding commencing capital debt of the corporation amounts to £42·1 million and subsequent borrowing from the national loans funds to £57·9 million—details are shown in the annexed schedule. These debts will, under the provisions of section 45(4) of the Act be extinguished immediately before the appointed day. I do not propose to require the company to assume any corresponding amount of debt.Under section 46 of the Transport Act 1980 I shall require the National Freight Company Limited, as successor to the corporation, to issue to me an appropriate number of ordinary shares, credited as fully paid up. The immediate effect will be to relieve the board from the need to meet fixed interest payments of approximately £9 million per annum. Instead the company will have to consider and settle with the Government an appropriate level of dividend to be paid on its shares. I will expect the board, while the company remains wholly-owned by the Government, to use any improvement in the financial position as a result of this arrangement to reduce its bank and other borrowings from the private sector.This loss of interest to the Exchequer should in part be reflected by an enhanced price for the shares when these come to be sold. I am satisfied that any eventual net loss of funds to the Exchequer is justified by the need to provide a firm basis for a successful issue of shares to the public.