§ 15. Sir L. Ropnerasked the Minister of Transport what was the valuation placed by his Department on the toll rights of Selby Bridge during the negotiations last year with the company which owns the toll rights; and what was the valuation of the rights by the company.
§ Mr. MarplesI do not think it would be in the public interest to disclose the provisional and qualified views on valuation reached by either side during the negotiations with the toll owners in 1958, since to do so might prejudice any future negotiations of this kind.
§ Sir L. RopnerIs my right hon. Friend aware that negotiations last year lasted for months and could scarcely be put into a worse position than they appear to be in today? Is he aware, further, that both his Department and the toll right owners must know what the other side thinks the value may be? Is he aware, further, that the East Riding County Council, the West Riding County Council, the Urban District Council and the Rural District Council of Selby and the Derwent Urban District Council cannot form any opinion with regard to the alternative schemes for getting rid of this long-standing scandal unless they are informed of the value of the rights?
§ Mr. MarplesThe whole thing is rather complicated because this bridge was built under the powers provided by the Selby Bridge Act, 1791. The Act exempts the toll revenues from tax. The complication when one has an income which is tax-free at the present day is rather more difficult than when it is taxed in the ordinary course of events. As 169 years ago Parliament passed that Act, even though the sins of the fathers do visit upon the children and even though it was a Tory Administration, I do not think that I can be held responsible for what happened in 1791.