To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for personal equity plans.

Personal equity plans continue to do very well. In 1990–91 a further half million plans were taken out, with initial investment of £1·6 billion. The average amount invested was a little over £3,000.The total number of plans taken out, since their introduction in 1987, is now nearly 1·5 million. And the total subscribed—ignoring withdrawals and growth—is almost £4 billion.