§ Mr. Crawfordasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount spent to date by British Rail on the development of its TOPS system, the value of sub-contract work involved and the proportion, in value terms, of the sub-contract work placed with companies in Scotland.
§ Dr. GilbertI understand from British Railways that they have spent £16.6 million. Contractual matters lie within the commercial jurisdiction of the board.
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what methods are used or are likely to be used in the measurement of estimated savings accruing from further closures of railway routes or passenger services on them submitted to him by British Rail; and how any such estimates are related to estimated economies calculated for part-closures and measurements of the actual savings seen to arise from them.
§ Dr. GilbertThe principle is to identify the escapable costs of the service and the potential loss of earnings. These are matters for the Railways Board in the first instance.
§ Mr. O'Halloranasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he is making in relation to the future of British Railways; if he will take into consideration the social as well as the economic requirements of the travelling public; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. CroslandI refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdare (Mr. Evans) and the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley).