Humber Bridge (Hansard, 25 November 1970)

§ 41. Mr. Wall
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the estimated cost for the Humber Bridge; and how it will be financed.

§ 119. Mr. James Johnson
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what communication he has received from the Humber Bridge Board regarding the terms of financing the construction of the Humber Bridge; and what reply he has given.

§ Mr. Michael Heseltine
The Humber Bridge Board estimates the cost to be £20 million at 1970 prices. We are in touch with the board, which wrote to my Department on 16th November about financing the bridge, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

§ Mr. Wall
Have the Government closed their mind to a Government grant for the bridge, or will it receive loan sanction? Can he say whether the dates originally set are likely to be kept?

§ Mr. Heseltine
The question of Government grant must depend upon decisions on the financing of the bridge. It would still be possible, if the bridge were to go ahead, for it to be completed according to the original timetable.

§ Mr. James Johnson
Since the Minister mystified me and the Hull City Council a few days ago on a former Question, will he come clean and tell us that we shall be given a Government loan at a rate of interest less than the public market outside in order to build our bridge?

§ Mr. Heseltine
I am sorry that the hon. Member should have been under any doubt as to what I said. I do not think that my answer was capable of causing any doubt. We did not say that there was a decision on this matter, and I believe that the local authorities are fully aware of the situation, because they are in constant touch with the Department.