HC Deb 04 February 1976 vol 904 cc631-3W
17. Mr. Wiggin

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of the rail network.

Dr. Gilbert

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdare (Mr. Evans) and others on 14th January.—[Vol. 903, c. 361–4]

25. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why Professor Peter Hall was commissioned to investigate the possibility of converting railways into roads.

Dr. Gilbert

Professor Hall was commissioned to test claims which had aroused considerable public interest that such conversions are feasible and would help to meet the public transport needs of urban areas at a reasonable cost.

26. Mr. Bagier

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will confirm that investment in the rail network is to be limited to £238 million per annum for the five years 1976–1981 at 1975 prices; and whether he will make a statement.

46. Mr. Walter Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will confirm that investment in the railway network is to be limited to £238 million for the five years 1976–81 at 1975 prices; and if he will make a statement.

Dr. Gilbert

I cannot anticipate the publication of the Public Expenditure White Paper, but I have asked the Board to work on the assumption that investment levels will be stabilised over the next few years.

31. Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations have been received by his Department about the future of rail services.

Dr. Gilbert

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, North (Mr. Ford).

60. Mr. Spriggs

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he proposes to have with the leaders of the railway trade unions about the future level of investment in British Railways, and any other relevant matters; and if he will make a statement.

Dr. Gilbert

The consultations which my right hon. Friend has already announced—[Vol. 903, c. 362–3]—will certainly cover investment in the railway industry.

75. Mr. Buchanan

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the possible size of the railway network and the quality of service based on the investment level of £238 million per annum.

Dr. Gilbert

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Cook) earlier today.

85. Mr. Whitehead

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assumptions were made by his Department about the rate of inflation when fixing British Rail's passenger revenue support for 1976.

Dr. Gilbert

An increase between 1975 and 1976 of 11.6 per cent. in the average price of output across the economy as a whole. This is consistent with the Government's target for reducing inflation.

92. Mr. Fitch

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will state the total amount of financial assistance to be provided by the Government to British Rail during the current financial year and the total amounts to be spent by the Government on road expenditure both directly and through grants to local authorities.

Dr. Gilbert

Direct Government assistance to British Rail is expected to amount to about £490 million. The Department expects to spend £437 million on construction and maintenance of trunk roads in England. Expenditure on construction and maintenance of trunk roads in Scotland and Wales, which is the responsibility of my right hon. and right hon. and learned Friends, is expected to be £51 million and £52 million, respectively. In general, specific grant is no longer payable in respect of local authority expenditure on roads and it is not practicable to attribute to that expenditure particular amounts of the rate support and transport supplementary grants.