§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the current subsidies for rail routes; what were the comparable figures for the previous three years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanClaims for 1990–91 have not yet been settled. Figures for central Government support paid to the British Railways Board are given in the table. They include both the public service obligation grant under EC regulation 1191/69 and section 3 of the Railways Act 1974, which compensates British Rail for maintaining loss-making passenger services on Network SouthEast and Provincial—InterCity services were removed from the obligation on 1 April 1988—and level crossings grant under EC regulation 1192/69. Final claims for 1988–89 have yet to be agreed; no final claims have been received for 1989–90.
629W
£ million Cash 1990–91 prices 1986–87 689 882 1987–88 783 951 1988–89 557 632 1989–90 511 544