The UK government may hold a parliamentary inquiry into the sale of £13.3 billion of Northern Rock assets to a consortium led by US private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management after a National Audit Committee report showed a divestment could have fetched more money if it were conducted differently.

Tim Bowden, a spokesman for the Public Accounts Committee of the UK parliament, said his committee was in the process of forming its autumn programme and that he "wouldn't be surprised" if the Northern Rock sale was included in its agenda.