§ 42. Mr. ERSKINE HILLasked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the charges made by the owners of the ferry operating between North and South Queensferry in respect of the transport of motor vehicles of between two and four tons and of over four tons; and the stage reached with the proposition to run a special night service for heavy vehicles to cope with the large number of these vehicles which at present cannot use the ferry owing to the prohibitive cost of transport?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAAs the answer includes a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. ERSKINE HILLWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind the present high cost of transport across the Forth when he is considering the question of the Forth road bridge?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAMost certainly; all these facts will be placed before me.
Mr. SIHINWELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the ferry is now completely out of date, and is it not desirable that he should turn his attention to the need for improved facilities for traffic by proceeding with the Forth road bridge?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI think that it is customary to argue a case before giving a verdict. The interested parties have not yet prepared the case which they are to submit to me.
§ Following is the answer:
| Charges for mechanically- propelled goods vehicles using Queensferry Passage. | ||||
| — | Per unladen vehicle. | Per laden vehicle. | ||
| S. | d. | S. | d. | |
| Exceeding 2 tons but not exceeding2½ tons (unladen weight. | 7 | 0 | 12 | 6 |
| Exceeding 2½ tons but not exceeding 3 tons (unladen weight). | 8 | 6 | 15 | 6 |
| Exceeding 3 tons but not exceeding 4 tons (unladen weight). | 11 | 6 | 22 | 6 |
| Exceeding 4 tons but not exceeding 5 tons (unladen weight). | 14 | 6 | 30 | 0 |
§ NOTE.—The maximum unladen weight of goods vehicles accepted for transport is five tons. The London and North Eastern Railway Company inform me that they are not aware of any proposal to run a night service of the ferry and that no suggestion that such a service is necessary has been brought to their notice.