National Asset Register 2001: Foreword
In 1997 the Government published the first National Asset Register, a comprehensive list of assets owned by every Government department and their sponsored bodies. The National Asset Register is an international landmark in transparency and accountability in Government. For the first time anywhere in the world, Government and the public have a complete picture of the country's assets. With this updated version of the Register the Government is again breaking new ground. In the interests of openness and accountability, the Government has published the value of every asset listed in the Register, and each department's entry includes a comprehensive description of all significant changes since 1997. The updated Register therefore demonstrates progress made in the last three years in the Government 's management of its assets.
This updated National Asset Register also includes comprehensive chapters covering the assets of Scotland,Wales and Northern Ireland. The inclusion of entries for the Devolved Administrations and the public bodies they are responsible for ensures that the Register is a true reflection of the assets owned by the United Kingdom.
The Government is publishing this new edition of the Register at the same time as the long planned move to resource accounting and budgeting by departments (RAB) reaches completion. The new framework complements the Register as part of the Government's determination to achieve greater transparency and better decision making in the management of public resources. By requiring departments to produce an annual, audited balance sheet, resource accounts greatly improve the quality of the information available to budgetholder and external takeholders. Resource budgeting requires departments,for the first time, to manage the costs incurred in holding on to a sets in the same way as other co ts are managed.
The National Asset Register is a vital part of the Government 's drive to improve efficiency in the public sector, enabling more informed decisions about the holding, acquisition and disposal of assets. The Register helps departments to make the best use of everything they own,and to judge whether assets are till needed.Each department has provided details of their plans to dispose of any assets that are surplus to requirements. Thus the Register helps ensure that resources are allocated to where they can be used most productively.
Andrew Smith
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
National Assets Register 2001 index
National Asset Register full index