HC Deb 29 July 1997 vol 299 cc216-7W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how much was invested by British Rail in new rail rolling stock in each year since 1979 at current prices; [11241]

(2) how much the Government invested in the rail network in each year since 1979 in current prices. [11240]

Ms Glenda Jackson

The table shows public sector investment in railway rolling stock, together with total public sector investment in the rail network, for each year between 1979 and 1996–97.

£ million 1996–97 prices
Public sector rolling stock investment Total public sector investment
1980 279 977
1981 219 831
1982 190 713
1983 135 786
1984–85 140 1,028
1985–86 137 899
1986–87 128 841
1987–88 156 951
1988–89 294 982
1989–90 309 1,173
1990–91 359 1,113
1991–92 521 1,486
1992–93 592 1,628
1993–94 452 1,249
1994–95 342 1,183
1995–96 85 930
1996–97 16

Notes:

1. Investment directly funded by passenger transport executive is not included.

2. Figures for 1984–85 cover a 15-month period.

3. Figures for 1994–95 and 1995–96 include investment undertaken by Railtrack, EPS and Union Railways while they were publicly owned but not part of BR. BR rolling stock investment was £212 million in 1994–95 and £29 million in 1995–96, both in 1996–97 prices. Total investment numbers for 1994–95 and 1995–96 are not directly comparable with figures for previous years due to the adoption of a new accounting practice by Railtrack.

4. The figure for 1996–97 covers British Rail only, excluding any investment undertaken by Railtrack, EPS and Union Railways during the few weeks at the start of the year when they were publicly owned. No separate details of rolling stock investment are available.

Source:

Annual reports and accounts of British Rail, Railtrack, European Passenger Services and Union Railways.