HC Deb 07 November 1995 vol 265 cc766-7W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the percentage of freight sent by(a) road and (b) rail in each year since 1979. [41811]

Mr. Watts

The percentage of total freight sent by(a) road and (b) rail in each year since 1979 is as follows:

Year Rail percentage of billion tonne KMs Road percentage of billion tonne KMs
1979 11 55
1980 10 53
1981 10 54
Year Rail percentage of billion tonne KMs Road percentage of billion tonne KMs
1982 9 53
1983 9 52
1984 7 55
1985 8 55
1986 9 56
1987 9 58
1988 8 60
1989 8 62
1990 7 62
1991 7 61
1992 7 61
1993 7 64
1994 6 65

Source:

TSGB, 1995.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to increase the proportion of freight carried by rail and decrease the proportion of freight carried by road. [41758]

Mr. Watts

Rail must improve its performance if it is to attract new traffic and retain existing freight customers. The key to this is liberalisation and privatisation. We have already opened up the rail network to competition. Privatisation of British Rail's freight businesses will follow as soon as possible.

Rail freight is being further encouraged by a considerably enhanced grants regime. Some 145 grants have been awarded since 1979, with a total value of £100 million at today's prices, securing traffic to rail equivalent to over 2.5 million lorry journeys per year.