§ Mr. Gouldasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing public sector purchases and sales of capital assets each year since 1979.
§ Mr. RidleyGross domestic fixed capital formation by the public sector since 1979 is shown in table 1. These figures measure purchases less sales of capital assets. Sales for central Government — incorporating special sales of assets—and local authorities are given in table 2. Sales for public corporations are not readily available.
particular expenditure item. It is not possible to isolate the effect of sales on reducing inflation from the myriad of other influences.
Sale of capital assets Central Government* Local authorities £ million PSBR per cent. £ million PSBR per cent. 1971 15 1 13 1 1972 20 1 18 1 1973 25 1 18 — 1974 32 1 43 1 1975 40 — 77 1 1976 25 — 167 2 1977 598 10 211 4 1978 65 1 455 5 1979 195 2 626 5 1980 466 4 1,033 8 1981 791 7 1,420 13 1982 660 12 2,437 45 * including special sales of assets