Tolls

HC Deb 19 April 1961 vol 638 cc1141-3

2. Mr. Wingfield Digby

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet reached a decision on the introduction of tolls on some new motorways, in order to increase, as rapidly as possible, the total mileage of motorways in this country.

12. Mr. du Cann

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now announce his conclusions upon the study he has recently carried out into the question of toll roads.

17. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the report of the study he ordered into the question of introducing tolls on motorways.

Mr. Marples

The Government have decided not to impose tolls on motorways forming part of the five major projects or planned as early extensions of them. The question of tolls on other and later motorways will be examined further. The existing policy of charging tolls on large and expensive tunnels or bridges will be continued.

Mr. Digby

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him whether it is not a fact that only £11 million additional is being spent on new roads next year, whereas £25 million extra is being imposed on the motorist in the form of taxation on motor vehicles? Would it not be a better bargain for the motorist to pay once on a toll road rather than twice over in this way?

Mr. Marples

No, I cannot accept the figures given by my hon. Friend. Very much more than £11 million is being spent.

Mr. Digby

I said £11 million extra.

Mr. du Cann

Will my right hon. Friend be good enough to give an undertaking that he will keep an open mind on the question of the introduction of tolls on new motorways in the future, for it seems that this is the only way in which we can get private capital into road building? Can he say when he thinks his future study will be completed and when he thinks there may be an opportunity for an announcement to be made to the House? In addition, will he bear in mind that there are probably as many hon. Members in favour of toll roads as there are against them?

Mr. Marples

I am certain that there are many views on the question of tolls, and that opinion is fairly equally divided. The point is that on the five major projects which have already been announced, some of which have been started and some of which have been completed, including their extensions, it is not possible to have tolls; but after that, on future motorways, we shall have a completely open mind.

Mr. Dodds

Will the right hon. Gentleman explain to those who do not agree with the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. du Cann) why it is necessary to raise tolls at all? Have we not in the Budget just had a classic example of soaking the motorist? If money is required to build roads, why cannot such a method as has been announced in the Budget be employed instead of levying tolls? The collection of tolls might have been justified in the dim and distant past, in the Victorian era, but how can it be claimed to be suitable in the modern age?

Mr. Marples

A toll is absolutely appropriate in the case of a very expensive tunnel or bridge and where there are tremendous advantages to be gained by using the tunnel or the bridge. Therefore, it is still the intention of Her Majesty's Government to charge tolls on very costly new bridge and tunnel schemes.

Mr. Strauss

How is it possible to justify the additional tax on some motorists who have to use a bridge or tunnel which does not apply to other motorists in other parts of the country who do not use the new bridge or tunnel? There is no justice or sense in it at all.

Mr. Marples

I have often agreed with the right hon. Gentleman, but I regret that on this occasion I cannot. In the case of the Dartford tunnel it was agreed (a) that it should be built, and (b) that there should be a toll on it. Once we started building, there was pressure for removing the toll, but it was a package deal and we should not be able to build it unless there were a toll.

Mr. Dodds

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I put it to you that the Questions relate not to tunnels or bridges but to motorways, which are a separate matter? Would the Minister not cloud the issue by bringing in bridges and tunnels when we are concerned with motorways like M.1?

Mr. Speaker

I did not hear anything that was out of order.