§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff are employed by British Rail in each of their regions; and what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1979.
§ Mr. David MitchellThis is of course a matter for British Rail management but I understand from them that the information requested is as follows:
British Rail manpower figures, by Region Eastern London Midland Scottish Southern Western 1979 48,398 50,632 18,997 30,714 24,076 1980 46,801 49,471 18,939 30,047 23,561 1981 44,171 45,885 17,397 28,947 22,009 1982 41,929 43,519 16,999 27,659 20,883 1983 39,836 41,655 16,493 27,069 20,022 1984 37,378 39,609 15,851 26,446 18,752 1985 35,954 38,397 15,445 25,782 18,248 11986 35,571 38,054 15,272 25,858 18,123 1 As at 18 October 1986.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been invested by British Rail in each of its regions on improving rolling-stock and stations in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe Government do not keep records of this sort. It would, in any case, be impossible to apportion BR's rolling stock accurately between regions as much of it operates in more than one region.
37W
§ Dr. Marekasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether any railway stations are liable to be closed as a result of the introduction of radio signalling on British Rail.
§ Mr. David MitchellI understand that the British Railways Board has no plans to propose the closure of any railway stations as a result of radio signalling.
§ Mr. Yeoasked the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received about privatising parts of British Rail.
§ Mr. David MitchellNone. Following the privatisation of British Rail's ancillary activities in hotels, ferries and hovercraft services, the emphasis now is on measures to broaden the participation of the private sector in supplying services to the railway. The objectives which we have recently given to the BR chairman ask him to establish specific programmes to this end.
§ Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for Transport what subsidy is being paid to British Rail in the current financial year: what subsidy is proposed for the next three years; how this compares with the subsidies paid in each year since 1974–75 in real and money terms; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellTotal subsidy for British Rail in 1986–87, including central government PSO grant, payments from passenger transport executives under section 20 of the Transport Act 1968 and level crossing grant is at present estimated at roundly £810 million, of which central Government's PSO grant settlement is £712.3 million. The central government PSO grant target for 1989–90 is £555 million in 1986–87 prices. Levels of PSO grant in intervening years will depend on the board's claims, as will future levels of level crossing grant. Future levels of PTE section 20 payments are the responsibility of the passenger transport authorities.
Comparable figures since 1975 are as follows:
Subsidy payments to British Rail (Central Government PSO grant, PTE section 20 payments and level crossing grant) £ million Cash 1986–87 prices 1975 325 949 1976 334 849 1977 372 830 1978 441 884 1979 545 954 1980 649 949 1981 829 1,087 1982 909 1,106 1983 952 1,103 11984–85 957 1,052 1985–86 914 948 1986–87 811 811 1 Grant for 15 months to end March 1986 multiplied by 0–8 These figures demonstrate the railway's remarkable achievement in bringing grant back in real terms to the levels of the mid-1970s. We have now set objectives which will secure the future of the network with higher quality, while maintaining improvements in cost effectiveness.