§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the approximate tonne-mileage of freight traffic carried by British Railways in respect of(a) minerals, (b) liquids, (c) containers and (d) other general freight in each year since 1988; and what is the estimate for 1993.
§ Mr. FreemanStatistics are not collected in precisely this form. Data for the transport by rail in 1991 of minerals, petroleum products and chemicals, expressed in terms of billion tonne kilometres, can be found in table 1.10 of Transport Statistics Great Britain 1992. A copy has been placed in the Library. Table 1.9(a) contains figures for the years 1981–91 for petroleum products; earlier figures for minerals and chemicals may be found in earlier editions. Figures for the transport of containers are not available.
These are the latest available statistics.
§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his oral statement of 24 May,Official Report, column 712, concerning the extent to which certain contracts for rail freight were covering operating costs, if he will outline the basis of the calculations he has made in relation to the scheme of paying up to 100 per cent. of the track, or overhead costs, of future freight on rail.
§ Mr. FreemanThe administrative guidelines for the new track charges grant scheme are being considered.
Details will be published in time for the introduction of the scheme, which is subject to the enactment of the Railways Bill.