HC Deb 19 April 1967 vol 745 cc557-8
21. Sir Clive Bossom

asked the Minister of Transport why the cost of providing a service for the removal of broken-down vehicles from the Severn Bridge is not paid from the income obtained from the tolls paid by users of the bridge.

Mr. Swingler

The Severn Bridge Regulations, 1966, which provide for charges to be made at specified rates to pay for the special breakdown service, give effect to the provisions of the Severn Bridge Tolls Act, 1965. Section 7 of that Act reflects the principle that, as with other toll bridges and tunnels, it is appropriate that the very small minority of bridge users whose vehicles break down, often through their own fault, should pay for necessary breakdown services.

Sir Clive Bossom

As the Government are virtually getting the bridge free because of the tolls and as they recovered only £562 up to 4th February, this year, could not the minimum charge of £5 now be drastically reduced, as it is not fair to the motoring public?

Mr. Swingler

I understood that the hon. Gentleman was putting forward the view that all users of the bridge should pay for the breakdown service through larger tolls. That was not the view which was taken in the House during the discussions of the Severn Bridge Act, when it was generally agreed that those who broke down on the bridge should pay, through the charges, for the £10,000-a-year cost of the breakdown services.