HC Deb 11 March 1992 vol 205 cc529-30W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much Government financial assistance was given in relation to each train kilometre in(a) France and (b) Britain, over the last five years.

Mr. Freeman

International comparisons of railway subsidy cannot be made with precision because of differences in accounting practice. For instance, past debt write offs mean that British Rail pays significantly less interest that SNCF. Comparative information is published by the International Union of Railways in "International Railway Statistics". I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library.

The following figures are available for Great Britain.

£ per train kilometre
BR (Great Britain)
1985 2.2
1986 2.0
1987 2.1
1988 1.3
1989 1.4
1990 1.5
1 1991 2.1
1:Estimated.

Notes:

Train kilometres include all passenger and freight kilometres. There is no subsidy paid to BR for freight.