§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total annual Government subsidy given to British Rail in each of the years since 1963 expressed at current and 1983 prices.
§ Mr. RidleyThe total annual support payments to British Rail from central Government since 1963 were as follows:
821W
Year Outturn prices 1983 prices 1963 134.0 861.0 1964 121.0 750.0 1965 131.0 778.0 1966 135.0 766.0 1967 153.0 839.0 1968 149.0 786.0 1969 72.5 367.0 1970 78.5 363.0 1971 75.1 323.0 1972 134.0 528.0
Year Outturn prices 1983 prices 1973 180.0 667.0 1974 376.0 1,206.0 1975 384.0 971.0 1976 348.0 767.0 1977 352.0 681.0 1978 405.0 707.0 1979 502.0 763.0 1980 595.0 756.0 1981 770.0 782.0 1982 840.0 886.0 1983 878.0 878.0 These annual central Government subsidy totals include:
- (a) grants under section 22, Transport Act 1962 between 1963 and 1968;
- (b) grants under section 39, Transport Act 1968 between 1969 and 1974;
- (c) revenue deficit grants under the Appropriation Acts between 1972 and 1974;
- (d) surplus track grants under section 40, Transport Act 1968 between 1969 and 1975;
- (e) research grants under section 57, Transport Act 1968 from 1969 to 1983;
- (f) grant in 1972 under the Transport (Grants) Act 1972;
- (g) grants for infrastructure, including those paid under section 56, Transport Act 1968;
- (h) freight deficit grants paid under the Appropriation Acts between 1975 and 1977;
- (i) PSO grants under section 3, Railways Act 1974 between 1975 and 1983;
- (j) level crossings grants under section 3, Railways Act 1974 between 1975 and 1983.
The subsidy totals exclude:
- (a) payments for historic pension liabilities made under sections 5 and 7, Railways Act 1974;
- (b) the write off of £1,262 million of accumulated liabilities in 1968 and of £189 million in 1974;
- (c) payments by passenger tranport executives under section 20, Transport Act 1968.
Grant figures for 1982 and 1983 are subject to detailed adjustment.