HC Deb 25 June 1998 vol 314 c619W
Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the level of asset disposals, at real 1997–98 prices, for each year from 1985–86 to 2001–02 for(a) central Government, (b) local authorities and (c) other public bodies. [46379]

Mr. Darling

[holding answer 18 June 1998]: Figures on the receipts from the sale of total fixed assets by both central government and local authorities for 1992–93 to 1998–99 were published in Public Expenditure statistical Analyses 1998–99 (Cm 3901), Table 1.6.

Receipts from the sale of fixed assets by public corporations from 1992–93 to 1998–99 are shown in cash terms in the table.

Year £ billion
1992–93 0.7
1993–94 1.0
1994–95 0.9
1995–96 0.9
1996–97 0.9
1997–98 0.7
1998–99 0.6

Data on receipts from the sale of assets in earlier years are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The "Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report" 1998 (Cm 3978) said that the Government were now projecting fixed asset disposals in the future years in question of around £1 billion a year for central government and £2¾ billion for local authorities.