HC Deb 07 December 1998 vol 322 cc36-7W
Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many full-time equivalent staff have been employed by British Rail for each of the last five years. [62520]

Ms Glenda Jackson

I understand from the British Railways Board that the numbers of full-time equivalent staff employed by them for each of the last five financial years were as follows:

Financial year Average staff during year
1993–94 128,414
1994–95 106,748
1995–96 90,165
1996–97 34,868
1997–98 3,319

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the Government's(a) total expenditure on and (b) income from British Rail in each of the last five years. [62521]

Ms Glenda Jackson

In the last five financial years the Government's total expenditure on the British Railways Board (i. e. BR's external finance requirement—EFR) or otherwise income from the Board (i.e. external financial contribution (EFC)) was the following:

£million
Year EFR/(EFC)
1993–94 1,461.4
1994–95 (330.1)
1995–96 (768.0)
1996–97 8.6
1997–98 24.8

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the cost per copy of the most recent British Rail annual report; how many copies were produced; and if he will make a statement. [62522]

Ms Glenda Jackson

The British Railways Board's Annual Report and Accounts 1996–97 was published in January 1998. The price per copy was £10. Copies were placed in the House of Commons Library.

I understand from the Board that some 1,600 copies have been distributed, and that they plan to publish their Annual Report and Accounts 1997–98 in January 1999 at a price per copy of £3.00.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the estimated value of assets held by British Rail. [62523]

Ms Glenda Jackson

I understand from the British Railways Board that they had net liabilities of £364 million at 31 March 1998, reflecting assets of £1,133 million and liabilities of £1,497 million.

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