HC Deb 16 November 1976 vol 919 cc455-6W
Mr. Ron Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if the contract recently placed with Plasser Theurer by British Rail is open-ended;

(2) if British Rail's order with Plasser Theurer was placed on the basis of a fixed rate of exchange with the pound sterling or not;

(3) if the order placed by British Rail with Plasser Theurer has risen in excess of £2 million;

(4) if the cost of the order placed with Plasser Theurer by British Rail is higher than at the time of placing the contract; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. William Rodgers

The contract placed by British Railways with Plasser United Kingdom Limited in January this year for 14 track relaying machines and 30 rail cranes is subject to variation in currency values on the import content and to cost price adjustment. Changes in exchange rates have led to an increase of about £500,000 on the original order price of £6.3 million. Over 70 per cent. of the order represents work being done in the United Kingdom.