HC Deb 07 March 2002 vol 381 cc556-7W
Mr. Chope

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2002,Official Report, column 789W on the Humber Bridge, what the total cost is of the essential maintenance work; what the nature of the work is; and when it will be completed. [38694]

Mr. Jamieson

[holding answer 28 February 2002]The essential maintenance work referred to in my answer of 25 February is resurfacing of the carriageway at the Humber Bridge, estimated total cost of £7.36 million. The work is due to be completed in October 2002.

Mr. Chope

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2002,Official Report, column 789W on the Humber Bridge, under what authority capital repayments between 2000 and 2002 were waived. [38692]

Mr. Jamieson

[holding answer 28 February 2002]Section 75 of the Humber Bridge Act 1959 as amended by Section 8 of the Humber Bridge Act 1971 states that the Humber Bridge Board shall apply revenues of the Board in the following mannerfirst in payment of the working and establishment expenses and cost of maintenance of the undertaking; secondly in payment of the interest on moneys advanced by the Secretary of State by way of loan under the provisions of the Humber Bridge Act 1971 and moneys borrowed by the Board under any statutory borrowing power in proportion to the respective amounts borrowed by the Board from the Secretary of State and other than from the Secretary of State as aforesaid; thirdly, subject to all interest as aforesaid having been paid in any year in making provision for repayment of moneys borrowed by the Board under any statutory borrowing in proportion to the respective amounts borrowed by the Board from the Secretary of State and other than from the Secretary of State as aforesaid.

It is our view that the above clearly gives authority to the Humber Bridge Board to defer interest and capital repayments to concentrate revenue for essential maintenance work.

Mr. Chope

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2002,Official Report, column 789W, ref 34782, on the Humber Bridge, when the decision was taken to waive capital repayments between 2000 and 2002; and if he will make a statement. [38693]

Mr. Jamieson

[holding answer 28 February 2002]The Humber Bridge Board took the decision (in accordance with Section 75 of the Humber Bridge Act 1959 as amended by the Humber Bridge Act 1971) to concentrate revenue for essential maintenance work and not to make capital repayments in 2000–01 and 2001–02.

This decision to not make capital repayments for the years mentioned was recognised by paragraph 4 of the Schedule to the Humber Bridge (Debts) Order 1998, whereby interest not exceeding £1.4 million in 2000–01 and not exceeding £200,000 (being in each case interest that cannot be paid by applying the revenues of the Humber Bridge Board in accordance with Section 75 of the Humber Bridge Act 1959) ceased to be payable.