HC Deb 22 November 1999 vol 339 cc53-4W
Mr. Peter Ainsworth

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish a list of assets sold by his Department and the value realised in each case, in each year from 1991–92 to 1998–99, together with an estimate of the value of asset sales planned in the (a) current and (b) next financial year. [98646]

Mr. Chris Smith

The National Asset Register for my Department covers the Government Art Collection (GAC), Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts (RCHM), the Royal Parks Agency (RPA) and the ex-Royal Fine Art Commission (RFAC) (until 31 August 1999) and ex-Historic Royal Palaces Agency (HRPA) (until 31 March 1998), in addition to the Core Department (DCMS). The DCMS Asset register was introduced in March 1999 as a result of the need for improved assets records for the introduction of Resource Accounting and Budgeting. Information on assets sold prior to the introduction of the register may therefore be incomplete. The available information on assets sold is set out in the following table:

Financial Year Body Asset1 Total Value£
1991–92 RPA RPA "ground maintenance" was contracted out and the in coming contractor purchased various items of equipment, a breakdown is not readily available 128,750
1992–93 RPA As above 326,056
1993–94 None Nil
1994–95 None Nil
1995–96 RPA 2 horses 5,300
1995–96 RPA 2 electric trucks 2,500
1996–97 DCMS House originally providing accommodation for craftsmen working at Windsor Castle 122,500
1996–97 RPA 2 horses 5,400
1997–98 DCMS Computer equipment 45,000
1997–98 RPA Radio and telecommunications equipment 2,226
1997–98 HRPA Tractor 2,500
1998–99 DCMS 2 houses originally providing accommodation for craftsmen working at Windsor Castle 162,000
1998–99 RPA Horse 2,800
1999–2000 DCMS Computer equipment 7,000
1999–2000 RPA Building 120,000
2000–01 DCMS Building (6 Burlington Gardens) Under negotiation
2000–01 DCMS Computer equipment Unknown
1A materiality minimum of £2,000 has been applied per item.

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