§ Mr. Channonasked the Minister of Transport under what statutory provisions actions have been brought by the Railways Board or the British Transport Commission for the recovery of damages in the last convenient 10-year period; how many such actions there have been; and in how many cases damages have been awarded.
§ Mr. Tom FraserI assume that the hon. Member is referring to cases involving malicious damage.
The Railways Board informs me that proceedings for the recovery of damages in such cases have been taken by it, or previously by the British Transport Commission, under the Malicious Damage Act, 1861, and the Criminal Justice Administration Act, 1914, as amended by the Malicious Damage Act 1964. I understand from the Board that detailed information in respect of the number of cases in which restitution for dama[...]e has been reflected in the costs awarded by the courts is not readily available.