§ Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to the answer of Friday, 22 June, Official Report, column 313, concerning sale of assets by area health authorities, how the proceeds of sale of assets other than land will be distributed; why the cost of new or replacement facilities previously met from the regional health authorities' capital programme will be met from sales; and what criteria will be used to determine whether the proceeds are particularly large.
§ Mr. John PattenProceeds from the sale of assets, other than for land and buildings, are retained by the district health authority which initiates the sale. Where a district health authority has benefited from capital provided by the regional health authority for new or replacement provision and as a consequence is able to dispose of existing land or buildings, the regional health authority will determine the extent to which the district should further benefit from the sale of the surplus asset.
Whilst our policy is for the proceeds of sales to go to the district health authority which generated the sale, it is left to regions to decide in the light of local circumstances 73W the level at which a receipt should cease to be for the sole benefit of the district in which the land or property is situated.