HC Deb 04 December 1968 vol 774 cc1504-6
8. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on tolls on the Forth Road Bridge.

17. Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the latest position regarding his proposal to increase tolls on the Forth Road Bridge.

Dr. Dickson Mahon

My right hon. Friend has given the Forth Road Bridge Joint Board notice of his intention to make an Order to increase the tolls and has specified the newspapers in which notice of the change proposed shall be published.

Mr. Hamilton

Is my right hon. Friend aware that that news will not be greeted with enthusiasm in Fife or anywhere else in Scotland? Despite the Report of the Accounts Committee, and in view of the fact that the Government are proposing to write off £243 million of the capital debts of London Transport in the new Bill, will not my right hon. Friend do the same with the capital debt on the bridge?

Dr. Mahon

I agree that this statement will be received with disappointment. I am certain that if there are any objectors—and thy, Joint Board themselves may be objectors—and they ask for a local inquiry, then under the Forth Road Bridge Order (Confirmation) Act, 1958, we shall hold an inquiry, and objections can be lodged until 31st January, 1969.

My hon. Friend raised a wider issue in the second part of his question. I would point out that the Confirmation Act, 1958, lays down the basis of agreement between the parties concerned and the local authorities at that time, and that agreement has to be honoured.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

Will the hon. Member confirm that his answer exposes the nonsense so often talked by his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on this subject before the last election?

Dr. Mabon

There is no relevance in that comment. Clearly the hon. Member has not read any of the pronouncements and only assumes the legend.

Mr. Noble

If an agreement has to be honoured which was agreed beforehand, why was it that his right hon. Friend was proposing to dishonour it?

Dr. Mabon

There is no question of of that. The difficulty facing my right hon. Friend is that he has to uphold what was done by the right hon. Gentleman's predecessor and by the right hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Lawson

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that the Forth Road Bridge was built at the expense of a considerable amount of other road building which would have gone on at that time? If pressure is brought to bear now, will he ensure that there is no easing up at the expense of other road building now due in Scotland?

Dr. Mabon

I much appreciate that. I only wish that hon. Members opposite would take the same balanced view. In defence of the Conservative Party, it is fair to say that the 1958 agreement did not spring from any compulsion on their part. It came from the accession of the local authorities concerned. One must be fair about this.