§ 59. Mr. CranTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take to encourage the sale of unwanted assets by district health authorities, in the light of the report published by the Comptroller and Auditor General, "Estate Management in the National Health Service."
§ Mrs. CurrieHealth authorities in England are fully aware of the need and advantages of disposing of all land and property which is surplus to NHS requirements and are actively encouraged to dispose of surplus property with all despatch. Proceeds from sales of surplus properties in England have increased over the last 10 years from £7.5 million in 1978–79 to about £200 million in 1987–88. In this period over 7,000 acres have been disposed of and a further 6,000 are currently awaiting disposal. Some regional health authorities are now raising over £20 million per year from disposals—and, since all proceeds are retained by the NHS for reinvestment in the Service, they are effectively adding 20 per cent. to their capital expenditure programmes.