HL Deb 23 February 2004 vol 658 c26WA
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, under Section 24 of Government Accounting, English Partnerships and other public sector agencies who have 40 days to consider ways of maximising the use of public sector land before it is offered for sale to the wider market, are required to acquire the land before it is offered for sale; and if not, why not. [HL1188]

Lord Rooker

Revised guidance on the disposal of assets was issued to departments and bodies they sponsor on 31 October 2003. This guidance will shortly be published as a revision to Chapter 24 of Government Accounting. The guidance sets out the new arrangements requiring a department or NDPB wishing to dispose of a piece of land to place the site on the Register of Surplus Public Sector Land. Other public sector bodies then have a period of 40 working days to register an interest in acquiring the site. If an interest is registered, and the disposing body accepts the proposal, the site will not be offered for sale on the open market. If no interest is registered, or the proposal is refused, the disposing body can offer the site for open sale.