§ Mr. Lathamasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will identify in specific terms the sales of public sector assets actually achieved in 1979–80; what was the revenue received from each; by how much the sales reduced the public sector borrowing requirement; how the outturn compared with the forecast; and what were the reasons for any discrepancies between the two.
§ Mr. LawsonThe following sales of public sector assets were made in 1979–80:158W
£ million 1979–80 Prices British National Oil Corporation—receipts of advance payments for oil 622 Sale of shares in British Petroleum Company Limited 283* National Enterprise Board—sale ofshares in International Computers Limited 37 New Town Development Corporations and the Commission for the New Towns—sales of land and buildings 26 Sale of shares in Suez Finance Co. 22 Regional Water Authorities—sales of land 3 Property Services Agency—additional sales of land and buildings 1 994 * Includes VAT and stamp duty In my right hon. and learned Friend's Budget Statement on 12 June 1979 he announced that proceeds from special sales of assets in the financial year 1979–80 would amount to £1 billion. In the event £994 million was raised and the public sector borrowing requirement was accordingly reduced by that amount.