§ Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Secretary of State for Transport how Government transport investment in 1980-81 compares with investment in 1975–76 in real terms.
§ Mr. FowlerProvision in the last public expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 7841) for transport investment within my Department's responsibility in 1980–81 and equivalent figures for spending in 1975–76 are as follows:
£m 1980 survey prices 1980–81 1975–76 New construction and improvements of motorways and trunk roads in England 372 638 Local transport capital expenditure on roads, car parks and public transport investment (England) 534 845 Investment by public trust and local authority ports and loans to ports in the private sector 62 77 It is too early to give a reliable estimate of the outturn for 1980–81. Figures for capital investment by the nationalised transport industries in 1975–76 and their investment ceilings for 1980–81 are as follows:
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£m 1980 survey prices 1980–81 1975–76 British Railways Board 325 *395 British Transport Docks Board 18 20 National Bus Company 61 50 National Freight Company Limited 41 34 * Includes expenditure on continuous welded rail—about £80 million per annum at 1980 survey prices—which from 1980–81 has been charged direct to revenue account and is outside the investment ceiling.