British Rail (Hansard, 25 November 1992)

§ Ms. Glenda Jackson
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when Her Majesty's Government were informed of British Rail's decision to make 5,000 staff redundant.

§ Mr. Freeman
My Department was aware that the British Railways Board was considering a voluntary severance scheme to enable it to reduce costs in line with falling income. The specific plans were advised to my Department on 19 November 1992.

§ Ms. Glenda Jackson
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the planned subsidy for British Rail for each year in the period 1993–94 to 1995–96 in real terms.

§ Mr. Freeman
The specific allocation of the planned external financing limits for British Rail for 1993–94 to 1995–96 between grant and borrowing has yet to be agreed and will be announced, as usual, in due course.
663W

§ Ms. Glenda Jackson
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a further statement on the Government's current plans for the privatisation of the British Rail network.

§ Mr. Freeman
We continue to make good progress on the detailed arrangements for rail privatisation based on the principles set out in the White Paper "New Opportunities for the Railways" (Cm. 2012). Legislation will be introduced in this session.

§ Ms. Glenda Jackson
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to abolish the subsidy for Network SouthEast.

§ Mr. Freeman
My right hon. Friend will be discussing in due course with the chairman of British Rail objectives for the board in the period from 1 April 1993. Our policy is to invite the private sector to operate BR services through franchising. This will bring greater responsiveness to passengers' needs, better services and improved efficiency. Should subsidy still be required for socially necessary services it will be provided.

§ Ms. Glenda Jackson
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the level of Government subsidy to British Rail in real terms in each year since 1987–88.

§ Mr. Freeman
The information requested is in the following table:

£ million—1992–93 prices

PSO grant Level crossing grant Total

1987–88 1,031 31 1,062

1988–89 676 29 705

1989–90 592 31 623

1990–91 669 32 701

1991–92 930 28 958

£ million—1992–93 prices
	PSO grant	Level crossing grant	Total
1987–88	1,031	31	1,062
1988–89	676	29	705
1989–90	592	31	623
1990–91	669	32	701
1991–92	930	28	958