§ Mr. SternTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will issue guidelines to prospective promoters of a second crossing of the River Severn.
§ Mr. ChannonThe tender invitation document is being issued today. Copies of the substantive volumes of the document will be placed in the Library.
This invitation reaffirms the Government's decision to give the private sector the opportunity to participate in the provision of a second Severn crossing. The shortlisted tenderers have been invited to submit proposals on two bases: to design and build the second crossing, and to finance and operate it with the existing crossing; and to design and build the second crossing for the Government. In either case the investment would be recovered through tolls. Under the first option the invitation allows tenderers to propose their own toll regimes within a finite concession period; they will also be required to take on the debt on the existing Severn crossing. Proposals must be submitted by 2 October.
The new crossing will have a dual three-lane carriageway with hardshoulders, and windshielding has been specified.
We are dealing with the approach roads separately, and will make another announcement shortly about these.