HC Deb 01 July 1964 vol 697 cc1324-5
16. Mr. W. Hamilton

asked the Minister of Transport if he will indicate the sources from which he obtained his information concerning the ownership of certain tax-free toll bridges.

The Minister of Transport (Mr. Ernest Marples)

In most cases from the highway authority for the road leading up to the bridge.

Mr. Hamilton

Whatever the source, it is not a very good one. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that of the five bridges and their ownership to which he referred in an Answer which he gave in April the information about two of them was incorrect? Is he aware that Swynford Bridge is not owned by the Earl of Abingdon, and Aldwark Bridge is not owned by the Yorkshire Farmers Ltd. It was sold two years ago? Can he take steps to see that his information is accurate in future; and, when he gets the information, will he let me know who are the owners of the bridges?

Mr. Marples

The hon. Member has not been wholly accurate in some of his remarks about toll bridges. I am bound to tell him that these private bridges have nothing to do with my statutory duties except in a most general sense, and therefore I could easily say to the hon. Gentleman or to any hon. Member that it is not my job and I am not providing the information. Because the hon. Gentleman is such a fair chaser of statistics, I thought that I would do my best to give him some information.

Mr. Hamilton

On a point of order. In view of the very unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.