§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each of the last five years the total amount of subsidy to the rail system; and what is his projection for each of the next five years. [50]
§ Mr. WattsRegarding the total amount of subsidy in the last five years. I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave the hon. Member for Truro (Mr. Taylor) on 7 November 1995Official Report, column 769.
The level of public funding needed for the railways in the next five years will depend on the bids for franchises received by the franchising director. The Government believe that privatisation will bring improvements to efficiency and services. All these factors will affect the level of funding required by the railways.