Share Ownership Mrs. Beckett To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the value of total share, and their total value, were owned by individuals (a) in the latest year for which figures are available and (b) in each year since 1970. [4046] Mrs Angela Knight The available information is given in the table.------------------------ |Year (at 31 December) | ------------------------ |Percentage | ------------------------ |Value (pounds billion)| ------------------------ 1. The apparent trend in the series is effected, particularly for the earlier data, by sampling errors and varying degrees of success in the identification of nominee holdings.2. The series reflect shares held directly by individuals, including those held in personal equity plans, but exclude those held indirectly for example in unit trusts.