§ 10. Mr. CranTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest figure he has as to the level of debt being carried by the Humber Bridge Board.
§ Mr. ChopeIt is estimated that at 31 March this year the debt of the Humber Bridge Board will amount to approximately £410 million.
§ Mr. CranThe Government have already accepted that the Humber bridge is a special case for the purposes of partial debt write-off. When will the negotiations with the Treasury be completed and when does the Minister expect to make an announcement about the write-off? I am sure that he agrees that the matter is causing enormous uncertainty and has dragged on for far too long.
§ Mr. ChopeI share my hon. Friend's concern about the delay. I assure him that everything possible is being done to ensure that a decision can be made as quickly as possible.