HC Deb 03 December 2002 vol 395 cc681-2W
Mr. Chope

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the Office for National Statistics decided to classify certain major trust posts as public bodies requiring their financial transactions to be included in the PSBR; and what reasons were given for the decision. [85123]

Ruth Kelly

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Chope, dated 3 December 2002:

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on the classification of major trust ports. I am replying in his absence. (85123)

The decision was taken on 26 October 2000.

Classification decisions are made by applying international standards for National Accounts. These are the 1995 European System of Accounts (Eurostat) and the 1993 System of National Accounts (United Nations, IMF, OECD etc). The classification of corporations to either the private or the public sector is determined by control. The public sector has control over the major trust ports, usually through both appointment rights and powers contained in the Ports Act 1991.