§ 40. Mr. Dribergasked the Minister of Transport why he has directed British Rail to refuse to make public a breakdown of costs and earnings on the Wickford-Southminster branch line; and if he will publish the required figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. CarmichaelMy right hon. Friend has not given the Railways Board any such direction. The Board does not publicise the figures it sends us with its grant applications, but there is no secret about them. I will, with permission, circulate the figures for 1969 in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. DribergI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Can he say when this decision was taken, since it is only a month since a representative of British Rail, Mr. Dickinson, at a meeting with the local residents, said that it was a Ministry directive that he should not release the figures?
§ Mr. CarmichaelI cannot understand the question of this being a "Ministry directive". Certainly the Railways Board regards the figures as confidential to the Minister unless and until the Minister chooses to publicise them.
§ Following is the information:
| £ | |
| Movement costs | 51,000 |
| Terminal costs | 9,000 |
| Track and signalling costs | 61,000 |
| Interest and Administration | 20,000 |
| Total costs | 141,000 |
| Earnings | 35,000 |
| Total grant | 106,000 |