Railways Board (Loss)

HC Deb 25 January 1967 vol 739 c1471

48. Mr. Channon

asked the Minister of Transport what is expected to be the loss of the Railways Board during 1967.

Mrs. Castle

About £130 million.

Mr. Channon

What is the right hon. Lady doing about it?

Mrs. Castle

I am preparing the national freight organisation plan, which will be placed before the House shortly.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

By how much would the railways' loss be reduced if private road hauliers were allowed to bring traffic to liner trains?

Mrs. Castle

I should like to be able to assure the hon. Gentleman that that would miraculously wipe out the deficit, but it would not. Unfortunately, a major cause of these disappointing results has been the falling-off in the traditional traffics of British Rail—heavy bulk traffics such as iron and steel and coal. These are continuing difficulties.