§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Minister of Transport what effect his policy on cash limits is having on the British Railways programme of electrification, rolling stock replacement and station modernisation. 34W but the survey related primarily to cars. A new survey on goods vehicles would be expensive and time-consuming, but I intend to devote enforcement resources to reducing evasion.
§ Mr. Penhaligonasked the Minister of Transport what are the latest available figures for back duty and penalties collected from vehicle excise duty evaders, categorised into heavy goods vehicle operators, motorists and others.
§ Mr. FowlerRecords are not kept in the precise form requested. The information available is:
United kingdom, per head of population, per route mile and per passenger mile.
§ Mr. FowlerThe latest informations is for 1977 and is dervied from the EEC Commission's second biennial report on the economic and financial situation of railway undertakings. It is given in the following table.
§ Mr. FowlerIt is for the Railways Board to decide what management action is necessary to remain within its cash limits. There are a number of options open to it to keep within the limits, including increased productivity and efficiency.
35W
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Minister of Transport whether any proposals have been put to him by British Railways for investment in new rolling stock for catering purposes; and what effect current limits on British Railways investment will have on planned modernisation in this area.
§ Mr. FowlerIt is for the Railways Board to determine investment priorities within the overall ceiling set by the Government. Catering rolling stock forms an integral part of all the high speed train sets being introduced by the board; I approved four additional sets on 26 December.
(£000) Paid by 1976–77* Department of 1977–78 Transport to 1978–79 RoSPA 1977–78 (1) Costs of Training, Development and Liaison Unit 122 138 147 177 (2) Aid towards cost of Publicity Material 29 31 36 36 (3) Contribution to Central Services 33 41 48 62 (4) Costs of Road Safety Education Development Unit 38 39 50 40 † (5) Totals 222 249 281 315 * Includes payments made by the Department of the Environment before the creation of the Department of Transport. †Final quarter's payment not yet claimed by RoSPA.
§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Minister of Transport whether, as a consequence of the contributions to the budget of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, he makes any nomination to the society's executive committee.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeYes. My right hon. Friend has nominated his Director of Road Safety to the society's executive committee.