§ 25. Captain GARRO-JONES (for Sir R. THOMAS)asked the Minister of Transport if he will state, in reference to tolls from the Menai Suspension Bridge, the total cost of collecting the tolls for the year ending 31st March, 1927; the net amount of tolls received by the Ministry for the last year; the cost of maintaining the bridge for the last year; and the figures showing the revenue accruing to the Ministry from the tolls for the year ending 31st March, 1926, and the year ended 31st March, 1927, respectively?
§ Colonel ASHLEYWith the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate a statement giving the particulars asked for, so far as available, in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the statement:
§ The accounts of the Menai Bridge Fund for the year ended 31st March, 1927, are not yet complete, and the following figures are in some cases provisional:
§ Year ended 31st March, 1927:
| £ | |
| Cost of collecting tolls | 1,168 |
| Net amount of tolls received, after deducting cost of collection | 11,376 |
| Cost of maintenance of the bridge (estimated) | 1,425 |
| Net revenue for the year after deducting cost of supervision and other expenditure (estimated) | 8,975 |
§ For the year ended 31st March, 1926, the accounts showed a deficit of £854. It 1445 should be explained that during 1925–26 and previous years the tolls were leased for a rent of £4,559, and that on 31st March, 1926, the lease terminated and the tolls have since been collected by the Department direct.
§ The accounts for that year have been included in the Civil Appropriation Accounts for the year ended 31st March, 1926, already published, and the Bridge Accounts for the year ended 31st March, 1927, will be similarly published in due course.
§ In view of the age and nature of the structure, the surplus revenue is, with the approval of the Treasury, being retained in a special contingency and renewal fund.