§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has about the level of charges equivalent to light dues levied by different European countries.
§ Mr. David MitchellWithin the EC, light dues are charged in Greece, the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. I have no information about the level or scope of the charges in Greece, but the Republic of Ireland operates a similar system to that in the United Kingdom, although the rates of charge may vary from time to time. I understand that in the Netherlands there is a Government levy on port dues which is applied to meeting242W applied by Her Majesty's Government to British Rail for (a) passenger and (b) freight traffic since the Transport Act 1962; and what future changes he envisages.
§ Mr. David MitchellChanges since 1962 could be ascertained only at disproportionate cost. The Government's current views on criteria for railway investment will be set out in their response to the Transport Committee's report on the financing of rail services.