HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 c370W
Mr. Sillars

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of public subsidy for Network SouthEast in each of the past three years.

Mr. Portillo

Figures for Government support paid to the British Railways board, including public service obligations grant under EC regulation 1191/69 and section 3 of the Railways Act 1974, and level crossings grant under EC regulation 1192/69, are given in the table. Final claims have not yet been agreed.

The table also shows the figures for total investment by British Rail in the railways.

£m cash (rounded to nearest £m)
Grant Investment
1986–87 709 399
1987–88 782 526
1988–89 557 570

In the annual report and accounts for 1987–88 British Rail estimated the PSO grant requirement for Network SouthEast at £231 million; in 1988–89 British Rail put NSE's requirement at £141 million.