§ 16. Mr. GrahamTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the future financial provision for the Erskine bridge.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonFinancial provision for the Erskine bridge is contained within the overall trunk road provision for Scotland. Arrangements for the financing of the bridge beyond the end of the extended tolling period in 1996 are under consideration.
§ Mr. GrahamDoes the Secretary of State realise that we were promised 20 years ago that after 20 years the toll would be abolished? [Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I wish to hear what the hon. Gentleman has to say.
§ Mr. GrahamI am most grateful for your assistance, Mr. Speaker. When I heard the rowdy noise earlier, I was sure that there was a John Doe—dead on arrival—back from Maastricht.
Is the Minister aware that the people of Dumbarton and Renfrewshire are sick and tired of paying the toll given that, after 20 years, the promise to abolish it has not been fulfilled, even though local business men, the local community councils and even some Tories wish it to go? Why does not the Minister support the local economy in Renfrewshire and Dumbartonshire by abolishing the toll now? Why does not he give freedom to the people of Scotland to move about without dipping into their pockets?
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonI regard the toll as absolutely fair in the circumstances. The bridge cost £10 million or more to build and successive Governments have supported the tolling of estuarial crossings of this nature. The tolling period will extend to 1 July 1996 and the Government will then make a decision about the future.