HC Deb 19 November 2003 vol 413 cc1094-5W
Mr. Page

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tonnes of gold from UK gold holdings were sold in each year since 1997; at what price per ounce they were sold; and what the value of the sales per ounce was at the afternoon fix on 3 November. [139862]

Ruth Kelly

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 27 October 2003,Official Report, column 39W and to the hon. Members for Reigate (Mr. Blunt) on 3 November 2003, Official Report, column 457W, and for Rochford and Southend, East (Sir Teddy Taylor) on 20 May 2002, Official Report, column 87W; and to the table in the Treasury document "Review of the sale of part of the UK Gold Reserves", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

At the afternoon fix on 3 November 2003, the total proceeds from the sales of gold was US$4,867 million.