asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by how much his Department has subsidised the losses of nationalised industries during the past year, and what was the comparable amount for 1978–79.

Of the nationalised industries now sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry, only British Shipbuilders and the British Steel Corporation made losses in 1978–79, of £50 million and £357 million respectively. In 1985–86 (the most recent year for which information is available) only British Shipbuilders reported a loss, amounting to £125 million. The total external financing requirement of all the nationalised industries sponsored by the Departmemt in the relevant years, including those making profits, reduced from £1,108 million in 1978–79 to £404 million in 1985–86.