British Rail (Hansard, 10 November 1987)

§ Ms. Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to ask the chairman of British Rail for an annual report showing for each region the number of instances of engine failure.

§ Mr. David Mitchell
We monitor the general reliability of British Rail's passenger services. But the particular causes of cancellation or late running are operational matters for the board.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each year since 1970, at 1970 prices(a) total capital expenditure approved for British Rail and (b) total capital expenditure for electrification of British Rail services.

§ Mr. David Mitchell
Figures for investment (on revenue and capital account) in the railway are not readily available before 1974. Corporate investment includes investment in the subsidiary businesses at the time: ownership of these businesses has changed in some cases. Figures for investment in electrification exclude rolling stock. The figures are:

Capital and revenue account corporate investment by the British Railways Board is as follows:

(£ million at 1970 prices)

Year Total BRB investment Railway investment Investment in electrification

1970 79 2.5

1971 85 7.8

1972 92 10.8

1973 97 6.4

1974 86 76 2.2

1975 93 81 5.0

1976 94 76 3.2

1977 89 75 1.9

1978 91 72 3.1

1979 98 74 3.5

1980 91 77 3.1

1981 75 64 2.6

1982 61 53 1.8

1983 60 52 2.0

¹1984–85 83 77 3.6

1985–86 80 73 11.8

1986–87 77 71 12.8

¹ 15-month accounting period.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the annual central Government subsidy to British Rail in each of the past 15 years; and if he will express these figures as a percentage of the total expenditure of British Rail in each year.
124W

§ Mr. David Mitchell
Figures for Government support for British Rail since 1972, in cash and expressed as a percentage of rail operating expenditure, are as follows.
The present grant system began in 1975, and figures for earlier years are not comparable. Figures for 1972 to 1974 include grants for unremunerative passenger services under section 39 of the Transport Act 1968, surplus track grants under section 40 of the 1968 Act, and revenue deficit grants. From 1975 they include grant in compensation for the public service obligation under EEC regulation 1191/69 and section 3 of the Railways Act 1974, level crossings grant under EC regulation 1192/69, and grants in respect of the non-passenger railway from 1975 to 1978.
Figures are taken from final grant claims and from the BRB annual report and accounts. 1984/85 is a 15-month period reflecting a change in the British Railways Board's financial year. The figures for 1985/86 and 1986/87 remain provisional; final claims have not yet been agreed. All figures are cash.

Grant (£ million) Per cent. of Rail expenditure

1972 127.0 20

1973 136.4 20

1974 354.7 40

1975 369.7 32

1976 348.5 28

1977 397.8 28

1978 410.2 25

1979 498.1 26

1980 591.4 26

1981 766.6 31

1982 835.6 33

1983 873.0 32

1984–85 1,088.9 31

1985–86 839.7 29

1986–87 733.4 26

Capital and revenue account corporate investment by the British Railways Board is as follows:
(£ million at 1970 prices)
Year	Total BRB investment	Railway investment	Investment in electrification
1970	79		2.5
1971	85		7.8
1972	92		10.8
1973	97		6.4
1974	86	76	2.2
1975	93	81	5.0
1976	94	76	3.2
1977	89	75	1.9
1978	91	72	3.1
1979	98	74	3.5
1980	91	77	3.1
1981	75	64	2.6
1982	61	53	1.8
1983	60	52	2.0
¹1984–85	83	77	3.6
1985–86	80	73	11.8
1986–87	77	71	12.8
¹ 15-month accounting period.

	Grant (£ million)	Per cent. of Rail expenditure
1972	127.0	20
1973	136.4	20
1974	354.7	40
1975	369.7	32
1976	348.5	28
1977	397.8	28
1978	410.2	25
1979	498.1	26
1980	591.4	26
1981	766.6	31
1982	835.6	33
1983	873.0	32
1984–85	1,088.9	31
1985–86	839.7	29
1986–87	733.4	26