HC Deb 15 October 1990 vol 177 cc643-4W
Mr. Moate

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a table showing the level of railway investment on a comparable basis in each year from 1974 to date.

Mr. Freeman

British Railways Board's railway investment is as follows, in constant 1990–91 prices:

£ million
1974 492
1975 534
1976 506
1977 502
1978 484
1979 489
1980 512
1981 432
1982 362
1983 353
11984–85 421
1985–86 504
1986–87 486
1987–88 601
1988–89 612
1989–90 741
1 1984–85 was a 15-month accounting period. The 12-month equivalent is given; the actual figure (in 1990–91 prices) was £526 million.

Note: Railway investment includes track, signalling, locomotives, rolling stock, stations and railway facilities. Expenditure by subsidiaries, and on non-operational land and continuously welded rail (CWR), are excluded. Figures are drawn from BR Annual Reports and Accounts, adjusted to exclude CWR between 1974 and 1979, and adjusted to 1990–91 prices using published GDP deflators.