To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 16 May, Official Report, columns 677–84, whether the offer of a British Rail dowry extends to the Blackburn-Hellifield line; whether running rights over British Rail lines between Hellifield and Settle junction will be granted to any potential purchaser; and whether the use of such facilities has been discussed with British Rail.
These are matters to be negotiated in the first instance between British Rail and any prospective purchaser.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 16 May, Official Report, columns 677–84, how much of the costs of promoting any private Bill required for the private operation of the Blackburn-Hellifield and Settle-Carlisle railways will be met by (a) British Rail and (b) the Exchequer; and what advice he will be giving to prospective purchasers as to the applicability of the Light Railways Act to any future private operation of these railways.
It is for any private operator to choose which form of statutory authority is most
| Reportable Fires on the London Underground | ||||||
| 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 (May) | |
| Station and tunnel fires | 3 | 2(2) | 11(6) | 10(5) | 10(7) | 11(1) |
| Train fires | 1 | 1(1) | — | — | 1(1) | — |