asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the loss which will be made by the National Bus Company during the current financial year; and what was the loss in the last two financial years.

The National Bus Company's accounts are on a calendar year basis. The loss on revenue account in 1974 was £12·3 million after depreciation and interest; that for 1975 will be an- nounced when the annual accounts are published, but I understand that the loss is likely to be about £5 million greater than that experienced in 1974; it is too early to predict what 1976 results will be.