Freight (Hansard, 15 December 1992)

§ Mr. Wilson
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what dates British Rail's objectives of 19 December 1989 for rail freight were superseded; and on what date British Rail was informed.

§ Mr. Freeman
The objectives have not been superseded.

§ Mr. Redmond
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the change in the amount of freight traffic carried by rail since May 1991.

§ Mr. Freeman
In the year ending May 1992, there was a decline of some 10 per cent. in terms of tonnes lifted. Factors affecting changes in rail freight are discussed at pages 18 to 20 of the 1991–92 annual report and accounts of the British Railways Board.

§ Mr. Nigel Evans
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the five most used motorways for the purpose of freight haulage.

§ Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
The five motorways which carry most heavy goods vehicle traffic on average per mile are the M25, Ml, M6, M62 and M56.

§ Mr. Nigel Evans
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of British goods for the domestic market are transported by(a) rail and (b) road; and how this compares with the EC average.

§ Mr. Kenneth Carlisle
The information that is readily available for 1990 is published in "Transport Statistics Great Britain 1992" as tables 8.9 and 8.10. Definitions and more detailed comparisons for earlier years are published in the transport statistics report "International Comparisons of Transport Statistics Part 1: Intermodal". Both publications are in the House of Commons Library.