HC Deb 22 April 1991 vol 189 cc347-8W
20. Mr. Eastham

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it is policy to make approval for any BR investment proposals conditional upon orders being placed in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Freeman

British Rail's purchasing policy is to obtain the best overall value for money through competition. About 95 per cent. of British Rail's requirements for supplies and services are currently ordered within the United Kingdom. Decisions on the placing of railway orders are commercial matters for British Rail and it would be inappropriate for Government approvals of British Rail investment proposals to be conditional on orders being placed in the home market.

Mr. Wray

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the 1991, 1992 and 1993 amount of public funds given to British Rail to improve passenger and goods access from Scotland to the continent via the channel tunnel.

Mr. Freeman

British Rail plans to invest up to £1.4 billion on works linked to the channel tunnel in this financial year and the next two. BR's investment is financed from a combination of internal and external finance, including borrowing. Section 42 of the Channel Tunnel Act forbids Government subsidy for international rail services.

Mr. Gregory

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out figures for rail investment, in cash and real terms, for the last 20 years, and the estimate for next year.

Mr. Freeman

Actual figures up to 1990–91 are listed in the table:

Rail Investment
Year Cash 1990–91 Prices
£ million £ million
1970 48 329
1971 59 371
1972 73 424
1973 81 440
1974 103 468
1975 157 568
1976 176 561
1977 193 541
1978 208 526
1979 248 537
1980 304 556
1981 277 462
1982 243 379
1983 252 375
11984–85 280 397
1985–86 399 536
1986–87 399 519
1987–88 526 648
1988–89 545 626
1989–90 696 752
1990–91 2822 822
112 month equivalent.
2Estimated outturn.

The definition of rail investment includes investment in Freightliners, British Rail Maintenance Ltd. and British Rail Engineering Ltd. but excludes the laying of continuous welded track which BR do not now classify as investment.

Plans for this financial year and the next two—1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94—are given in the departmental report 1991 (Cm. 1507).