§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the cost to public funds was of(a) the railway system in the last year 12W of public ownership and (b) the subsidy paid each year since privatisation (i) in total and (ii) to Virgin Trains Ltd. [156725]
§ Mr. HillIn 1953–94, the last full year before the British Railways Board was restructured in preparation for privatisation, we Board's total external finance requirement was £1,461 million. The railway industry was progressively privatised over the following three years, during which period total Government support was:
Cash prices £ million Central Government grants Other elements of Government support Total Government support excluding PTE grants 1994–95 1,815 -464 1,497 1995–96 1,712 -643 231 1996–97 1,809 -1,044 775 Virgin Trains Ltd. commenced operation of its CrossCountry franchise on 5 January 1997 and its West Coast Trains franchise on 9 March 1997. Since 1997–98 (the first full year of franchised operations), Support for Passenger Rail Services (SPRS) paid by the Franchising Director has been:
Cash prices £ million SPRS paid to all train operating companies Including: SPRS paid to Virgin Trains Ltd. 1997–98 1,425 193 1998–99 1,196 172 1999–2000 1,033 146