Written question asked by Peter Bradley (Labour) on Tuesday, 27 November 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 3 December 2001. It was answered by David Jamieson (Labour) on Monday, 3 December 2001 on behalf of the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

Dept for Transport Local Government and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, in (a) cash and (b) percentage terms, what profit including dividends received a Railtrack investor would have made in selling a single share bought at flotation when its value was at (i) its highest, (ii) its lowest and (iii) its average level.

Answer: Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in (a) cash and (b) percentage terms, what profit including dividends received a Railtrack investor would have made in selling a single share bought at flotation when its value was at (i) its highest, (ii) its lowest and (iii) its average level. [19496] Mr. Jamieson: The gross returns on a single share bought at flotation for £3.80 and sold at the highest ever, lowest ever and average closing price of Railtrack shares are provided in the table. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Value of share at sale Sale price minus Dividends received Gross cash return on Gross percentage return flotation price (£) before date of sale (£) flotation price (£) on flotation price Highest value on 23 November 13.88 0.60 14.48 381 1998 = £17.68 Lowest value on 20 September -1.28 1.40 0.12 3 2001 = £2.52 Average value between 20 May 5.35 {1}1.13 6.48 171 1996 and 5 October 2001 = £9.15 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} Shares were traded at the average daily share price several times, all falling in the 2000-01 financial year. Dividend payments therefore assume that the share was sold in 2000-01. The returns do not take account of any tax liabilities or transaction charges paid by individual investors.

Secondary information