§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the items in the National Asset Register sold by his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies since 22 February 201W 1999, stating in each case the amount of money realised; if he will estimate the total amount raised from such sales to date; and if he will make a statement. [104491]
§ Dr. HowellsThe information requested by the hon. Member is not available in the form requested.
The Department estimates that assets totalling approximately £6 million will be sold in the year beginning 1 April 1999 as set out in Table 3 of the Departmental Investment Strategy available in the Library of the House.
Although not comprehensive in terms of all receipts, those from the sale of major assets, eg property, investments are separately identified in the Department's Appropriation Accounts which are published annually. Details of other asset sales are unavailable and could be extracted from records only at disproportionate cost. The Department's Resource accounts for 1999–2000 which will contain information about asset holdings and disposals will be published for the first time in autumn 2000. The Department's Executive Agencies already produce Annual Reports and Accounts, which contain similar information relating to assets. These Accounts are laid before Parliament and are available in the Library of the House. Accounts for our other associated public bodies are also available in the Library of the House.