§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much Government funding has been provided to Railtrack through other bodies in each year since 1997. [157752]
§ Mr. HillMy answer dated 18 December 2000,Official Report, column 7W, provided details of Government funding to train operating companies (TOCs) in 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000. In addition, the Government paid freight grants of £21 million, £19 million and £17 million respectively to freight operating companies (FOCs) in those years. That funding is not hypothecated to cover particular types of expenditure, so it cannot be directly identified as the source of payments made by TOCs and FOCs to Railtrack. For example, in addition to Government funding, TOCs receive income from Passenger Transport Executives, from fares paid for passenger services and from payments made for other services.
The table provides details, for 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000, of access charges paid to Railtrack by TOCs and FOCs, as stated in Railtrack's Annual Reports and Accounts 1998–99 and 1999–2000.
Access charges paid to Railtrack by Tocs and Focs £ million cash prices 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 Passenger access charges paid by TOCs 2,149 2,169 2,175 Freight access charges paid by FOCs 164 169 158 Railtrack's passenger and freight income 2,313 2,338 2,333 Note:
Railtrack's passenger and freight income makes up some 90 per cent. of its total income. The company's profitability is therefore contingent on Government funding.