HC Deb 29 July 1997 vol 299 cc215-6W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the total level of(a) Government financial support and (b) public subsidies for the railways in each year since 1979 at current prices. [11242]

Ms Glenda Jackson

The table provides details of British Rail's external finance requirement for each year from 1980 to 1993–94.

Year £ million (1996–97 prices)
1980–81 1,759
1981–82 1,949
1982–83 1,607
1983–84 1,469
1984–85 1,803
1985–86 1,488
1986–87 1,233
1987–88 821
1988–89 531
1989–90 939
1990–91 1,317
1991–92 1,682
1992–93 2,276
1993–94 1,569

The table provides details of the passenger grants paid by the franchising director to train operating companies in each of the three years since the industry was restructured on 1 April 1994.

Ms Glenda Jackson

The information is not readily available in the form requested.