asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 7 November (WA 144), why, bearing in mind that passenger numbers are increasing at 7 per cent per annum, their forecasted increase for the use of trains in the north-west region in the period between 2002–03 and 2031–32 is 2.1 per cent per annum. [HL76]

The figure of 2.1 per cent per annum refers to growth in gross domestic product (GDP), which, along with changes in population, employment and fares, influences demand for rail.