§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the total number of passengers carried by British Rail in each year since 1960; and, for purposes of comparison, what information he has regarding the number carried in the same years by the German and French national railways;
(2) what information he has regarding the total volume of freight measured in ton-miles carried by French and German national railways, respectively, for each year since 1960.
§ Dr. GilbertThe following are the figures' for British Rail, the German Federal Railways (DB) and the French National Railways Company (SNCF):
Act 1968; and for purposes of comparison, what information he has regarding the number of employees in the German and French railways.
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§ Dr. GilbertThe following are the figures for British Rail, the German Federal Railway (DB) and the French National Railway Company (SNCF):
Number of employees in 1968, 1973, 1974 and 1975 Thousand 1968 1973 1974 1975 BR … … 296 229 234 231 DB … … 393 406 404 n/a SNCF … … 323 283 286 n/a n/a = Not available.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present track mileage of British Rail; how far this has declined since 1960; and what is the present track mileage of the German and French railways.
§ Dr. GilbertThe following table shows route miles open for traffic on British Rail, German Federal Railway (DB) and French National Railways (SNCF):
Route mileage in 1960, 1973 and 1974 Miles 1960 1973 1974 BR … 18,383 11,326 11,289 DB … 19,072 18,033 17,907 SNCF … 24,134 21,397 21,410
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the losses incurred by rail systems in France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy and the Netherlands in the last year for which figures are available and the amount of State subsidies granted in every case.
§ Dr. GilbertInformation about losses incurred by the national railways of other countries is not readily available. The following table shows forecast estimates of State aid paid in 1975 under EEC regulations:
Million France £900 Federal Republic of Germany £1,785 Italy £575 Netherlands £108
§ Mr. Fryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much of the provision for British Rail's investment programme is included under the item passenger subsidies in Table 2.6 of Command Paper No. 6393; and how such expenditure is distinguished from that appearing in Table 2.5.
§ Dr. GilbertUnder the capital accounting rules adopted following the Railways Act 1974 British Rail investment in infra8W structure is charged to revenue account. That part of such investment which is attributable to passenger services is supported by grant and is, therefore, included within passenger subsidies in Table 2.6. To avoid double counting it is then subtracted as "British Rail Infrastructure" at the foot of Table 2.5. It amounts roundly to £90 million per annum.
§ Mr. Fryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much British Rail's passenger operations are currently losing.
§ Dr. GilbertThe Railways Board estimates that the deficit on its rail passenger operations in 1976 will be about £340 million.