HC Deb 10 January 1977 vol 923 cc400-6W
Mr. Dudley Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will publish a detailed breakdown of the various means by which public transport, separated into passenger and freight is subsidised, by central and local government, including subsidies on capital expenditure; and if he will give these figures for the last five financial years, and estimates for the current year, in both out-turn prices and November 1976 prices.

Mr. William Rodgers

The information about the subsidies for which I am responsible, which comprise cental Government subsidies for Great Britain and local authority subsidies for England, is set out below. The constant price figures are given at November 1975 prices, as these are the latest available. Grants to the British Railways Board in respect of its historic pension liabilities are not included.

£ million
Outturn prices
1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77*
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES (GB)
A. Central Government Subsidies to BRB
1. Passenger Revenue
(a) Transport Act 1968
S.39—Unremunerative Passenger Services … … … 65.1 66.3 81.5 136.0 4.7 0.9
S.40—Surplus Track … … … 7.5 8.5 1.8 0.5 — —
S.57—Research … … … 1.6 1.4 1.8 1.8 1.7 2.0
(b) Transport (Grants) Act 1972 … … … — 27.0 — — — —
(c) Railways Act 1974
S.3—Public Service Obligation (EEC Reg. 1191/69) … … … — — — 78.7 291.9 330.0
S.3—Level Crossings (EEC Reg. 1192/69) … … … — — — 1.6 10.1 9.6
(d) Appropriation Acts
Cashflow shortfall grants (Revenue element) … … … — — 75.0 134.4 — —
Total Revenue … … … 74.2 103.2 160.1 353.0 308.4 342.5
2. Passenger Capital
(a) Transport Act 1968
S.56—Infrastructure Grant … … … … 1.3 11.1 17.0 8.0 7.5
(b) Appropriation Acts
Cashflow shortfall grants (Capital element) … … … — 42.0 2.0 47.6 — —
Total Capital … … … 1.3 53.1 19.0 69.8 8.0 7.5
3. Freight Revenue
(a) Appropriation Acts
Revenue deficit grant … … … — — — — 81.0 42.3
* Estimates.
£ million
November 1975 prices
1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77*
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES (GB)
A. Central Government Subsidies to BRB
1. Passenger Revenue
(a) Transport Act 1968
S.39—Unremunerative Passenger Services … … … 116.5 108.5 121.9 171.1 4.8 0.8
S.40—Surplus Track … … … 13.4 13.9 2.7 0.6 — —
S.57—Research … … … 2.9 2.3 2.7 2.3 1.7 1.8
(b) Transport (Grants) Act 1972 … … … — 44.1 — — — —
(c) Railways Act 1974
S.3—Public Service Obligation (EEC Reg. 1191/69) … … … — — — 99.0 297.8 306.7
S.3—Level Crossings (EEC Reg. 1192/69) … … … — — — 2.0 10.3 8.9
(d) Appropriation Acts
Cashflow shortfall grants (Revenue element) … … … — — 112.2 169.0 — —
Total Revenue … … … 132.8 168.8 239.5 444.0 314.5 318.2
2. Passenger Capital
(a) Transport Act 1968
S.56—Infrastructure Grant … … … 2.3 18.1 25.4 27.9 8.2 7.0
(b) Appropriation Acts
Cashflow shortfall grants (Capital element) … … … — 68.6 3.0 59.8 — —
Total Capital … … … 2.3 86.7 28.4 87.7 8.2 7.5
3. Freight Revenue
(a) Appropriation Acts
Revenue deficit grant … … … — — — — 82.6 39.3
* Estimates.
£ million
Outturn prices
1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77*
B. Other Central Government Subsidies
1. Passenger Capital
New Bus Grant … … … … … 10.8 20.1 20.8 22.9 37.2 42.2
2. Freight Revenue
National Freight Corporation … … … … … 8.0 3.7 1.6 — 8.0 32.3
Public Sector Ports … … … … … 6.4 3.8 1.9 1.1 — —
Freight Facilities Grant … … … … … — — — — 0.5 4.8
LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES (ENGLAND)
1. Passenger Revenue
Subsidies to BRB … … … … … — 9.4 8.6 13.9 16.7 23.7
Subsidies to bus, ferry and underground … … … … … 2.9 4.4 10.2 105.4 169.6 175.6
Concessionary Fares … … … … … 4.9 10.4 15.6 40.0 67.1 81.6
LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT (ENGLAND)
Investment in BR passenger services … … … … … — 0.6 2.4 8.6 32.5 49.9
£ million
November 1975 prices
1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77*
B. Other Central Government Subsidies
1. Passenger Capital
New Bus Grant … … … … … 24.4 40.8 37.1 31.4 40.8 38.3
2. Freight Revenue
National Freight Corporation … … … … … 14.3 6.0 2.4 — 8.2 30.0
Public Sector Ports … … … … … 12.5 6.8 3.0 1.4 — —
Freight Facilities Grant … … … … … — — — — 0.5 4.5
LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES (ENGLAND)
1. Passenger Revenue
Subsidies to BRB … … … … … — 15.4 15.0 17.6 17.2 21.5
Subsidies to bus, ferry and underground … … … … … 5.7 7.3 17.7 133.9 174.4 159.1
Concessionary Fares … … … … … 9.7 17.2 27.1 50.8 69.0 73.9
LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT (ENGLAND)
Investment in BR passenger services … … … … … — 1.2 4.2 10.6 33.3 43.7

In addition Exchequer assistance is given through Rate Support Grant and Transport Supplementary Grant towards local authority investment in buses and underground railways but accurate estimate of subsidy flowing into investment of that nature cannot be made.

* Estimates.