§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what mechanisms Government financial support for rail services is delivered to the passenger 117W transport executives in England and Scotland; and what estimate he has made of the level of that support during the current financial year. [10421]
§ Mr. WattsMetropolitan district councils in England receive recognition of the costs of PTE support for railway passenger services payments. In the current financial year this is included within the calculation of revenue support grant. The support given in this way, and through the Scottish local government finance settlement, amounts to £281.2 million for 1996–97. Railways passenger services in those areas also benefit from expenditure funded by payments under the terms of the deeds of assumption.