British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is tipped to announce the sale of £16 billion worth of government assets in a bid to shore up public finances.
The BBC reports the prime minister will give details in a speech on Monday of initial sales which could raise £3 billion.
The Conservatives said the sale was "probably necessary" but "no substitute for a long-term plan".
The BBC says the plan is to sell a "portfolio of non-financial assets" held by Whitehall and local authorities over the next two years.
They will include the Tote bookmakers, Dartford crossing, the student loan book and the Channel Tunnel rail link.
The government's stake in Urenco is also tipped for sale. This is a European uranium consortium, in which Britain has a 33% stake. It supplies equipment to enrich uranium for the nuclear industry.
The government will also sell surplus real estate which is part of £220 billion owned by departments and agencies.
Mr Brown will say the funds raised will help finance new capital investment and pay down debt.
In April, Chancellor Alistair Darling forecast that public borrowing this year would reach a record £175 billion over the next two years.
