To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to consider social and economic factors in assessing new rail electrification projects to include such factors in the calculation of the internal rate of return; and if he will make a statement.

The electrification of lines is expected to earn an 8 per cent. return compared with the alternative of diesel services. However, it is the policy to take into account external benefits where a project would not otherwise meet the relevant appraisal criteria.