§ 13. Mr. Gregoryasked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made by British Rail in securing productivity gains.
§ Mr. David MitchellI understand from British Rail that labour productivity has gone up by 11 per cent. since 1979 and that further improvements are planned.
§ Mr. GregoryI am sure that the House will find those comments extremely encouraging. However, how far has such improvement been hampered by secondary picketing as a result of the miners' dispute?
§ Mr. MitchellThe losses on the freight side that British Rail is now suffering as a result of the miners' dispute are between £4 million and £5 million a week. That lost revenue will weaken the pace at which British Rail can carry out its modernisation investment programme.