§ 16. Sir W. Anstruther-Grayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the use of the Forth Road Bridge by private and State road haulage is in line with his estimates; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RossDuring the 20 weeks to 22nd January 1,609,000 vehicles crossed the bridge. No differentiation of type of vehicle was made in the count. In proposing a 2s. 6d. toll the Joint Board assumed that at least 5 million vehicles would cross the bridge in the first year.
§ Sir W. Anstruther-GrayMay we take it from that reply that the figure of 2s 6d. for a toll appears to be working out all right?
§ Mr. RossIt will be some time before we have a full year's working and can make an assessment. There has to be a statutory review after a year, and although we do not yet have any summer figures and have nothing to work on in that respect, it strikes me that this is working out fairly well.
The Earl of DalkeithHas the right hon. Gentleman received any representations from his hon. Friends for the removal of these tolls since he took over the office of Secretary of State?
§ Mr. RossIf the hon. Gentleman had been attending to his Parliamentary duties, he would have known that there have been Questions on the Order Paper about this subject.
§ Mr. William HamiltonBut I regret to say that my right hon. Friend has not responded to those Questions. Will he give an undertaking that at the annual statutory review he will remove the tolls?
§ Mr. RossI shall not put myself under any such obligation. I said that I would have a look at the whole problem at the time.
§ Mr. G. CampbellWas it not suggested in a publication which was issued just before the election and called "Signposts for Scotland" that tolls should be abolished?