Mr Bennett asked the Minister for Transport, upon notice:

(1)   Were the following factors taken into consideration in utilising concrete sleepers in replacement programs: (a) freight from point of removal to new point of placement and the handling cost entailed, (b) the cost of the remaining value of sleepers written off, i.e., those with residual value but too low a residual value for economic re-installation, (c) cost of re-installation of displaced sleepers and (d) cost of any new timber sleepers supplied during a concrete re-sleepering program.

(2)   If so, what were the findings in each instance.

(3)   With regard to paragraph (a) of part (1), is a fact that this would entail a distance of not less than 500 miles if there is an ongoing program of resleepering With concrete.

Mr Charles Jones - The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1)   (a) Yes.

(b)   Yes.

(c)   Yes.

(d)   Yes.

(2)   The findings were that any costs incurred in these operations would be identical to those involved in replacing existing timber sleepers with timber sleepers of a different size. Therefore, these costs were not specifically brought out in the comparative study performed by the BTE.

(3)   No.