§ Mr. McLoughlinTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what external finance limit has been set for the railway industry for 1994–95; and what estimate he has made of Government grant support for 1994–95.
§ Mr. WattsThe external finance limit for the railway industry as a whole has now been set at £1,496 million. This represents an increase of £259 million on previous plans. The increase is met either from reallocations within existing Department of Transport programmes or from the reserve and does not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.
The British Rail and Railtrack EFLs have been set, respectively, at contributions of £272 million and £333 million and European Passenger Services EFL at a requirement of £177 million. Grant support, comprising franchising director and metropolitan railway grant, is estimated to be £1,924 million. Any further adjustments will be notified to Parliament.