§ Mr. Robert BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of his Department's employees have been sacked for incompetence since 1986.
§ Mr. AtkinsSince 1 January 1986, 26 employees of the Department have had their employment terminated on the ground of inefficiency, and 25 on the ground of limited efficiency. Seventy staff did not have their employment confirmed at the end of their probationary period.
GB(BR) West Germany France Italy 1979 Number of Passengers (million)1 736 1,027 676 386 Passenger kms (billion)1 32 39 53 40 Average Number Employees (000) 244 337 259 220 1986 Number of Passengers (million)1 689 1,023 767 397 Passenger kms (billion)1 31 41 60 40 Average Number Employees (000)1 171 272 233 214 1980 Tonne kms (billion)2 18 51 58 19 1986 Tonne kms (billion)2 15 48 54 19 Sources:
1 1979, 1986 International Railway Statistics (UIC).
2 International Comparisons of Transport Statistics; Statistics Bulletin (88) 38 (DTp).
Information on profit/loss and subsidy is available for 1985 and 1981. Comparisons between countries are misleading as accounting policies vary across Europe. For example, since nationalisation the Government have written off approximately £1.5 billion (cash) of BR debt. If
Million units local currency (cash) GB(BR) West Germany France 1Italy £ DM FF L Subsidy 1981 831 9,062 15,408 3,573 1985 920 9,317 23,342 6,798 Loss 1981 37 3,830 2,863 1,705 1985 20 2,909 4,486 2,119 Source:
EEC Transposed Accounts.
1 Italian figures in billion lire.
The most recent investment comparisons my Department has are for 1989–90.
£ Great Britain (BR) West Germany France Italy Investment (million) 685 1,662 1,062 n/a Investment per route mile (thousand) 66 97 49 n/a Source: January 1989 International Railway Journal.
International comparisons of financial statistics must take account of the differences between the networks' geographical and operating conditions. A comparison of subsidy per route mile shows that the level of subsidy paid