§ Mr. William Sheltonasked the Secretary of State for Transport what were the profit and loss results for the Seaspeed hovercraft operation for each of the years 1973 through to 1979, according to normal accounting conventions, with full allowance for interest on capital employed and any British Railways headquarters overhead; and if he will give an estimate of expected results for 1980 on a similar basis.
§ Mr. FowlerThe following is the information requested:
§ Mr. FowlerThe figures are:
Financial Year Expenditure Income £ million £ million 1977–78 7.875 8.213 1978–78 7.633 9.463 1979–80 8.842 9.998
§ Mr. David Watkinsasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many tests on vehicles were carried out by heavy goods vehicle testing stations in 1978, 1979 and 1980.
§ Mr. FowlerThe figures are:
Financial Year Number of Tests 1977–78 869,318 1978–79 892,342 1979–80 896,399
§ Mr. David Watkinsasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the net Exchequer gain or loss, excluding proceeds of sales, as a result of the sale of the heavy goods vehicle testing stations.
§ Mr. FowlerTesting fees are set at the start of a 12-month period, based on estimated costs and throughput. Costs and income are intended to balance, but a particular period may show a surplus or loss depending how circumstances change during the year. There is no predictable pattern and excluding the proceeds of disposals, I would expect the effect on the Exchequer of transferring this work out of the Civil Service to be broadly neutral.