§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide a table giving the percentage of total route miles of railway passenger services electrified in the United Kingdom and in each of the other EEC states.
§ Mr. PortilloAt present, 27 per cent. of British Rail's total route miles are electrified. Equivalent percentage figures for other EEC countries are as follows:
Percentage Belgium 60.0 Denmark 7.5 France 34.0 Germany 42.0 Greece 0.0 Ireland 2.0 Italy 57.0 Luxembourg 60.0 Netherlands 65.0 Portugal 13.0 Spain 49.0 Figures for total route miles of passenger services only which are electrified are not available.
§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he is giving to giving loan sanction to West Yorkshire passenger transport authority, over several years, to finance the electrification of routes between Bradford and Leeds and along the Aire valley; and whether the scheme satisfies his financial criteria for such investment.
§ Mr. PortilloThe West Yorkshire passenger transport executive has put a case to the Department, and discussions are taking place. More details are needed before any decision can be taken.
§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals from British Rail he is considering to ensure a continuous programme of electrification on British Rail; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloBritish Rail's 1989 corporate plan includes electrification of the following lines: Portsmouth-Southampton; Cambridge-King's Lynn; Heathrow Express to Paddington; Manchester international airport link; Birmingham cross-city line; Hooton-Chester to Ellesmere Port; and the east coast main line. It is for British Rail to come forward with any further proposals for electrification which would satisfy its normal investment criteria.