HC Deb 21 October 1986 vol 102 cc778-9W
Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria of social cost benefit he currently applies to proposals for further conventional tube or rapid transit rail investments in Greater London.

Mr. David Mitchell

New Underground or rapid transit rail investments in London are normally expected to show a real financial rate of return of at least 7 per cent. But we recognise that some proposed investments which do not satisfy this criterion may have significant non-financial costs or benefits, for example, to road users. Where such costs and benefits need to be taken into account, the investment would normally have to show at least a 7 per cent. return on a cost-benefit basis.