HL Deb 31 March 1999 vol 599 cc87-8WA
Lord Selkirk of Douglas

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What would be the cost to public funds to abolish the tolls on (a) the Skye Bridge; (b) the Erskine Bridge; (c) the Tay Bridge; and (d) the Forth Bridge, giving separate figures for each bridge. [HL1616]

What is the annual cost of maintenance of (a) the Skye Bridge; (b) the Erskine Bridge; (c) the Tay Bridge; and (d) the Forth Bridge, giving separate figures for each bridge. [HL1617]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office (Lord Sewel)

The costs to the public funds would comprise the toll income foregone on the Erskine Bridge, the Tay Bridge and the Forth Bridge, the future costs of maintaining and operating the bridge and the costs, including redundancy costs, of terminating the present arrangements for the operation and maintenance of the bridges. Estimates are not available for the latter. The toll income and the expenditure on the operation and maintenance of the bridges, as shown in the accounts to 31 March 1998, are as follows:

Operating Costs £ Maintenance Costs £ Toll Revenue £
Erskine Bridge 1,556,922 304,336 4,366,039
Forth Road Bridge 2,235,073 1,356,739 8,849,610
Tay Road Bridge 1,062,000 249,000 3,190,000

As to the Skye Bridge, the accounts for the year to 31 December 1997 show the cost of operation and maintenance at £509,505. The cost of abolishing the tolls would be determined in terms of the contract with the concessionaire. This cost is estimated to be at least £25 million but the final figure would depend upon the outcome of negotiations. The future costs of operating and maintaining the bridge would also fall on the public purse.

Lord Selkirk of Douglas

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish a graph showing the most optimistic predicted usage of vehicles crossing the Skye Bridge based on current trends and with current arrangements; and what is the earliest time-scale within which the Skye Bridge toll can be ended. [HL1618]

Lord Sewel

Usage since the Skye Bridge opened in October 1995 is as follows:

Number of Vehicles
Period to 31 December 1995 77,646
1996 612,145
1997 627,244
1998 655,689

Figures for predicted usage of the bridge are not available. The audited accounts of Skye Bridge Limited at 31 December 1997 show that the company expect the concession to end in 2013, 18 years after the opening of the bridge.