§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the aggregate sum of taxpayer contributions pledged towards the cost of capital spending projects by British Rail and London Transport in London and the South-Eastern Planning Region since June, 1970; and what has been the corresponding figure for the rest of Great Britain.
§ Mr. PeytonSince June, 1970, grants amounting to about £72 million have been authorised under Section 56 of the Transport Act, 1968, towards the cost of British Rail and London Transport capital projects in London and the South East; the comparable figure for the rest of Great Britain is £11 million. Other major projects, mainly in the conurbations outside London, are currently under consideration.
Additionally, under Section 32 of the Act, London Transport has received new 217W bus grant totalling nearly £2 million in this period; payments to operators elsewhere in Great Britain have amounted to about £9 million.
§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the aggregate sum of taxpayer contributions pledged towards the cost of capital spending projects by local authorities and the nationalised industries in London and the South-Eastern Planning Region since the establishment of his Department; and what has been the corresponding figure for the rest of Great Britain.
§ Mr. PeytonCapital grants paid to local authorities in 1970–71 totalled £159 million; the Exchequer also contributes through the rate support grant system to the cost of financing loans raised to pay for capital expenditure. Capital grants to public corporations in the same year amounted to £47 million. An analysis of these figures by regions is not readily available.