§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total of the capital programme for British Rail for the current year; how much will be allocated to the building of new or refurbished old stations, purchase of trains and rolling stock; and what is proposed to be the source of its funds for these purposes.
§ Mr. William RodgersThe White Paper "Public Expenditure to 1979–80" provides for £258.6 million at 1975 survey prices for investment in the railways and ancillary activities of the British Railways Board. Of this, some £9 million is being spent on station rebuilding and modernisation; and £52 million on passenger trains and rolling stock. The main sources of funds for their purposes are depreciation, sales of assets, and borrowing from the National Loans Fund and abroad. Local authorities also make capital grants for specific items.