§ 115. Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if the acceptance of the principle of tolls is now a basic condition for determining the priority of the proposed Severn bridge.
§ 117. Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will state what considerations led to the 73W Severn bridge project, which formerly enjoyed the highest priority, being placed in a lower category of importance and urgency than other schemes, including the Forth river bridge and the Tyne crossing; and if he will make a statement.
§ 122. Mr. Coldrickasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation on what grounds he gave a higher priority to the Firth of Forth bridge than to the Severn bridge, having regard to the urgent need for the latter.
§ Mr. WatkinsonI have not altered the priority of the Severn bridge, which I consider to be a scheme of great importance. The Forth bridge is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, and the announcement that work is to be started on it does not affect my intention to authorise the Severn bridge as soon as economic and financial circumstances permit. It is reasonable in my view that the very high cost of major bridge projects of this type should be recouped by the imposition of tolls, and this policy will apply to the Severn bridge as it has been decided it shall apply to the Forth bridge.
§ 119. Mr. Probertasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent shortages of essential materials prevent him from announcing a date for the commencement of work on the proposed Severn bridge.
§ Mr. WatkinsonShortage of raw materials is not the main factor in this issue.
§ 120. Mr. Finchasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what is his estimate of the quantities of steel required in the erection of the proposed Severn bridge.
§ Mr. Watkinson50,000 tons.
§ 121. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what was the original estimated capital cost of the proposed Severn bridge; and to what figure it has been reduced as a result of consultation between his technical advisers and those of the local authorities concerned.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe estimated capital cost of the proposed Severn bridge and its immediate approach roads in 1953 was about £12½ million. The estimate has not been affected by consultation with74W local authorities, but a more up-to-date figure is about £15½ million. Larger estimates which have been announced from time to time include the cost of ancillary roads, the construction of which is necessary to get full value from the bridge.
§ 123. Mr. Westasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation to what extent the industrial developments at Milford Haven have been taken into account in his consideration of the proposal to erect a bridge over the Severn at English Stones.
§ Mr. WatkinsonI have taken fully into account the general industrial development of South Wales in considering the proposed Severn bridge.
§ Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what negotiations he has had with the local authorities concerned regarding the proposed Severn bridge; and what undertakings he has given them.
§ Mr. WatkinsonI saw a deputation from the conference of local authorities, commercial, industrial and other interests on 13th April last year. I have given no undertaking except to let them know, when I could, my decision about the priority of the Severn bridge among a number of other major projects to which I attach high importance.
§ Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what estimates of financial savings have been submitted to him as a consequence of the erection of the proposed Severn bridge.
§ Mr. WatkinsonAs part of the economic justification for building a Severn bridge the Welsh and South Western Regional Boards for Industry and the conference of the interested local authorities have given me a good deal of information on what they estimate the savings to individual road users will be when a bridge is built.