§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much in money terms and as a percentage of railway staff wages and salaries rose in the years 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1974, respectively; what approximate proportion these costs represented in each
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 Staff expenses—£ million … 338.5 359.2 416.7 455.9 * Staff expenses—Percentage increase on previous year 9.9 6.1 16.0 9.4 * Staff expenses as a proportion of expenditure on operating account—Percentage 63.0 62.0 67.0 66.0 * Subsidies—Capital grants (£ million) … 0.4 0.7 9.2 14.3 23.7 Subsidies—Operating grants (£ million) … 77.6 74.1 100.4 104.7 147.6 Subsidies—Special grants (£ million) … — — 32.0 72.0 215.0 Corporate surplus/(deficit) before tax and special grants 9.5 (15.4) (26.2) (51.6) * * Comparable information for 1974 not yet available.