HC Deb 25 May 1988 vol 134 cc173-4W
Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in theOfficial Report a list of road, bridge and tunnel facilities in each of the four countries of the United Kingdom for which tolls are levied, with a note for each entry of the name and address of the responsible authority; whether it produces published accounts for that specific facility; which Minister is responsible for authorising changes in such tolls and on which (i) public expenditure programme and (ii) class, vote and subhead, the toll revenue and associated expenditure is to be found.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

I can answer for tolled facilities in England.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport is responsible for the Severn bridge. Toll revenue and associated expenditure there is part of the roads public expenditure programme and appears in class VIII, vote 1, under subheads A 1.7—new construction and renewals; A1.8—toll and operating equipment; B1.5—toll collection and breakdown service; and B2.1—toll revenue.

Toll revenue and associated expenditure at other crossings does not appear in the roads public expenditure programme. The Secretary of State is responsible for authorising changes in the tolls on a number of other bridges, floating bridges and roads. Details of ownership and accounting arrangements are not readily available for all minor crossings and roads. The major estuarial crossings in England, for which accounts are published annually and the authorities responsible for those crossings, are as follows:

Dartford tunnels

  • Dartford Tunnel Joint Committee
  • Tunnel offices
  • South orbital way
  • Dartford
  • DA1 5PR

Humber bridge

  • Humber Bridge Board
  • Guildhall
  • Kingston upon Hull
  • HU1 2AA

Itchen bridge

  • Hampshire county council
  • The Castle
  • Winchester
  • SO23 8UJ

Mersey tunnels

  • Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority
  • PO Box 87
  • Tithebarn House
  • Liverpool
  • L69 2LU

Tamar bridge

  • Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee
  • The Manager
  • Torport Ferry Office
  • Torpoint
  • Cornwall
  • PL11 2AX

Tyne tunnel

  • Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority
  • Civic Centre
  • Newcastle upon Tyne
  • NE99 2BN