§ Sir Sydney ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when ownership of the Queen Elizabeth II bridge and the Dartford Tunnels will transfer to the Government; if the transfer will be earlier than scheduled; and what difference there has been between the revenue received from toll charges and the forecast made when the bridge was sanctioned. [46755]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe concession for the Dartford crossings is likely to end, on current projections and subject to ongoing assessments of maintenance requirements, towards the end of 2000. Tolling can then continue for a further year for the accumulation of a maintenance fund. This estimated timetable is 3 years shorter than was envisaged at the start of the Dartford River Crossing's concession in July 1988. In real terms, toll revenue has been over 20 per cent. higher than expected.