§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if the increase of charges by 100 per cent. on 2nd August on the toll over the Dunham bridge complies with Her Majesty's Government's counter-inflation policy:
(2) what estimates he has made of the number of vehicles using the Dunham toll bridge daily in peak or off-peak months; and what are the numbers and types;
(3) whether he will investigate the income, running costs, and cost of repairs and maintenance plus profitability in previous years of the private toll bridge at Dunham on Trent and publish the findings.
§ Dr. GilbertI do not think that an investigation is called for. The increases appear to be within the maxima permitted under the Dunham Bridge Act 1830. Any increases outside those maxima would have to be approved by my right hon. Friend under Section 6 of the Transport Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1954. I regret that the traffic information requested is not readily available, but I will write to my hon. Friend.