§ Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is now the latest index or cost per mile for public passenger transport by rail around London for commuter distances, commuter distances in provincial towns and cities, rural routes, inter-city, and over the country as a whole, respectively; and how the situation has changed since 1st April 1974, 1973 and 1968.
§ Mr. MulleyThe information is not readily available in the form requested. The average receipt per passenger mile for the British Railways system was 1.10p—2.65 old pence—in 1968 and 1.59p in 1973, and for the London Transport rail system 1.34p—3.21 old pence—in 1968 and 2.4p in 1973.
§ Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is
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§ Mr. MulleyAs I said in my announcement in the House on 17th June—[Vol. 875, c.68.]—one of the objectives of the continuing national road programme will be the linking of major centres of population and industry to ports, including, of course, Southampton, with priority being given to the needs of heavy lorries. Investment on rail infrastructure is a matter for the British Railways Board, which takes full account of the prospects for profitable rail traffic.