NHS (Land and Property Sales)

HC Deb 23 October 1984 vol 65 c562W

Mrs. Clwyd

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much National Health Service land and property was sold in each year from 1976 to date.

Mr. John Patten

Following is the information requested in respect of the NHS in England:

Year ending	Acres sold
31 March 1976	300
31 March 1977	387
31 March 1978	489
31 March 1979	626
31 March 1980	375
31 March 1981	1,031
31 March 1982	1,199
31 March 1983	551
31 March 1984	850*
* Provisional figure

We are not able to point to a reason for the fluctuations between 1980 and 1981, and 1982 and 1983. It has to be borne in mind that land and property transactions tend to move slowly and one large transaction can substantially affect a years figures. It is unwise therefore to read too much into the figures for any one year in isolation.