§ 13. Mr. Andersonasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many railway sidings in Wales were opened in each year since 1974 to date with the assistance 17 of section 8 grants; what was the expenditure in each year on section 8 grants at current prices; and what estimate of freight tonnage this represents.
§ Mr. Barry JonesSince 1974, four schemes in Wales have been completed, enabling some 200,000 tonnes of freight per annum to travel by rail rather than road. Grant payments to the end of the current financial year are expected to amount to about £0.8 million. I will, with permission, circulate details in the Official Report.
§ Mr. AndersonIs my hon. Friend aware that that is a considerable success not only in taking heavy vehicles but also hazardous vehicles off the roads? Will be try to make the scheme more attractive to industry by giving 100 per cent. grants for connections to existing lines and for waggons of low utilisation?
§ Mr. Barry JonesI shall certainly consider that. To cheer up my hon. Friend even further, I can tell him that other schemes are in progress, such as that of the Duport steel company at Llanelli for £1.8 million, of the Ford Motor Company Ltd. at Bridgend for £1.1 million, and of the Aberthaw Cement Company at Aberthaw for £733,000. There is also the NCB scheme at Treforgan, which is being started in the early 1980s, for £1.1 million.
§ Mr. Gwynfor EvansWhat has the expenditure been on schemes for the electrification of Welsh railways during the past decade?
§ Mr. Barry JonesIf the hon. Gentleman puts down a question on that I shall be happy to deal with it.
§ Following is the information:
| Sidings opened | Annual Tonnage involved (estimated) | Grant payments made | |
| £ | |||
| 1974–75 | — | — | — |
| 1975–76 | — | — | — |
| 1976–77 | 1 | 50,000 | 69,780 |
| 1977–78 | 1 | 58,000 | 81,709 |
| 1978–79 | 2 | 88,000 | 642,000 (estimated) |
§ Note: Payments include advances on account of schemes in progress.