§ Mr. Geoffrey Johnson Smithasked the Minister of Transport what is the level of Government subsidy to British Rail in each of the years since 1970; and what is the percentage decrease in the subsidy for the year 1980–81.
§ Mr. FowlerGrants paid by central Government to the British Railways Board for the operation of the railways were as follows:
£ million at outturn prices 1970 73.8 1971 71.7 1972 96.9 1973 135.6 1974 294.9 1975 370.7 1976 336.4 1977 344.1 1978 401.6 1979 480.0 (provisional) The provision for grant in 1980–81 is 4.7 per cent. less than that for 1979–80, in constant price terms.