§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what Government subsidies have been made available to British Rail in each year since 1979 towards its electrification programme.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe Government do not give BR specific investment grants. The public service obligation grant includes provision for the appropriate share of revenue investment and depreciation on capital assets used in the grant-aided railway. A significant proportion of electrification expenditure has, therefore, been eligible for 615W grant. No grant will however be available for inter-city services from 1 April this year: their investment will be expected to show a commercial rate of return.