§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish a list of assets sold by his Department and the value realised in54W each case, in each year from 1991–92 to 1998–99, together with an estimate of the value of asset sales planned in the (a) current and (b) next financial year. [98646]
§ Mr. Chris SmithThe National Asset Register for my Department covers the Government Art Collection (GAC), Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts (RCHM), the Royal Parks Agency (RPA) and the ex-Royal Fine Art Commission (RFAC) (until 31 August 1999) and ex-Historic Royal Palaces Agency (HRPA) (until 31 March 1998), in addition to the Core Department (DCMS). The DCMS Asset register was introduced in March 1999 as a result of the need for improved assets records for the introduction of Resource Accounting and Budgeting. Information on assets sold prior to the introduction of the register may therefore be incomplete. The available information on assets sold is set out in the following table:
Financial Year Body Asset1 Total Value£ 1991–92 RPA RPA "ground maintenance" was contracted out and the in coming contractor purchased various items of equipment, a breakdown is not readily available 128,750 1992–93 RPA As above 326,056 1993–94 — None Nil 1994–95 — None Nil 1995–96 RPA 2 horses 5,300 1995–96 RPA 2 electric trucks 2,500 1996–97 DCMS House originally providing accommodation for craftsmen working at Windsor Castle 122,500 1996–97 RPA 2 horses 5,400 1997–98 DCMS Computer equipment 45,000 1997–98 RPA Radio and telecommunications equipment 2,226 1997–98 HRPA Tractor 2,500 1998–99 DCMS 2 houses originally providing accommodation for craftsmen working at Windsor Castle 162,000 1998–99 RPA Horse 2,800 1999–2000 DCMS Computer equipment 7,000 1999–2000 RPA Building 120,000 2000–01 DCMS Building (6 Burlington Gardens) Under negotiation 2000–01 DCMS Computer equipment Unknown 1A materiality minimum of £2,000 has been applied per item.