§ Mr. David Watkinsasked the Minister of Transport, in accordance with the cost accounting agreement between his Department and British Railways, what proportion of fixed costs is borne, respectively, by passenger and freight traffic on lines used by both.
§ Mr. FowlerThe information is not available in the form requested. The rail freight business bears its avoidable costs. In 1978 the rail freight business bore approximately 20per cent. of all track, signalling and electric track equipment costs, and 22 per cent. of total railway indirect costs, including administration, depreciation and interest. In the same year, freight traffic accounted for 16 per cent. of total loaded train miles.