§ 36. Mr. Alexanderasked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made in considering the March 1981 statement by the British Railways Board of its policies and potential for the 1980s.
§ Mr. FowlerThe board's "Rail Policy" document develops the themes set out in its corporate plan for 1981 to 1985, which I am at present studying, and on which I hope to make a statement in due course. I shall naturally take into account the rail policy document as part of the process.
§ 39. Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Transport what would be the total investment required to implement the proposals in the British Railways rail policy document; and how this compares with current investment plans.
§ Mr. FowlerThe figures are set out at page 24 of the document. The board estimates that implementation of these proposals would cost, on average, £567 million—at mid-1980 prices—for each of the years 1981 to 1990. This compares with the £306 million per year estimated by the board to represent likely investment in the rail business under the current investment ceiling. It should be noted that these figures relate to investment in the rail business only.