NFC grants set-back
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GOVERNMENT grants to cover National Freight Corporation losses in France and Germany are to be re-examined by Parliament following the end of the committee stage of the Transport (Financial Provisions) Bill this week.
The Bill makes grants of £95 million to the NFC and to British Rail but during the committee stage the Government suffered one defeat and three tied votes.
Mr Fowler compared the grants with cash allocated for inner city development: "The National Freight Corporation lost £13.4 million in France and Germany and there is no reason why the British taxpayer should be asked to foot the bill," he said.
"We are still not satisfied with the allocation of the grants — the amounts are virtually the same as the money for the inner cities," said Mr Fowler.
He said that the moves to put the issue back before Parliament would improve the public accountability of the two industries.
The issues are to be discussed by Parliament when the Bin reaches the report stage on its way to the statute books.