HC Deb 27 January 2000 vol 343 cc269-70W
Mr. Bob Russell

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what directions for Government Departments and local authorities to sell surplus state assets he issued(a) prior to 18 October 1999 and (b) subsequently; and if he will make a statement. [107153]

Mr. Andrew Smith

The Government have put in place a number of incentives to ensure public sector assets are managed efficiently. The National Asset Register was published in November 1997, setting out for the first time the assets held by central Government. New incentives to dispose of surplus assets were introduced from 1 April 1998, which allow Departments to recycle receipts from disposals to be reinvested in public sector assets.

As part of the Comprehensive Spending Review Departments prepared investment strategies, which were published in March 1999, setting out plans for new investment, improved asset utilisation and procedures and systems to ensure value for money. As part of the move to resource accounting and budgeting, Departments are currently producing balance sheets which will show the full value of their asset holdings and budgets that include the cost of capital consumption in the form of a capital charge. Local authorities are currently producing investment overviews across their estate which build upon their ongoing work drawing-up asset management plans.

Mr. Bob Russell

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to ensure that the sale of surplus assets will not result in the loss of playing fields. [107173]

Mr. Andrew Smith

The Government have put in place a number of measures to protect playing fields. The Department for Education and Employment have introduced new legislation to require all state schools to seek consent for the disposal of playing fields, which includes consultation with community and user groups. The Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions have published a Direction enabling Ministers to consider planning applications concerning local authority playing fields and those used by educational establishment where Sport England have objected to the proposals.

Sport England also remains statutory consultee on all playing field planning applications and ask local authority planning policies to permit development on playing fields only where it can be demonstrated that there is a proven excess of provision. Finally, Lottery funding of £125 million will be devoted to a new green space initiative, including the creation of new playing fields.