§ Mr. Buchananasked the Minister of Transport if he will give the cost to British Railways of property damaged or destroyed by vandals during 1964; what was the number of prosecutions brought during 1964; and what was the average fine imposed.
§ Mr. Tom FraserThe British Railways Board tell me that detailed information for 1964 is not available. A special survey showed the cost of repairing losses of this kind in 1963 to be about £150,000. The Board estimate, however, that if consequential losses and the expense of preventive action are included the total cost may be as high as £500,000 a year. During 1964, 906 prosecutions were bought. The average fine, over the 767 cases where this penalty was imposed on conviction, was £4 4s.