§ 79. Mr. Abseasked the Minister of Transport to what extent he took into consideration, when drafting the Severn Bridge Tolls Bill, the need to ensure that no compensation should be paid for the extinguishment of the franchise granting ferry rights over the Severn originally granted to a favourite of James I in 1607 and now claimed to be vested in a descendant, the Duke of Beaufort, which would be greater than the original consideration given in 1607; and if he will investigate the nature and character of the original consideration given to the Severn Bridge ferry operator, in order to satisfy himself that a payment of compensation would not offend against public taste.
§ Mr. Tom FraserThe Severn Bridge Tolls Bill does not include any provision for compensating the owner of a ferry franchise if it is extinguished. The Bill does include a provision enabling the ferry operator, where operation of the ferry is discontinued on or after opening of the road, to apply to me for compensation, and empowering me, if certain requirements are satisfied, to pay such compensation as I may consider appropriate in accordance with the provision of the Bill. The present operators first acquired rights in 1931. The terms of their rights have been revealed to me in confidential "without prejudice" discussions.
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§ 80 and 81. Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Minister of Transport (1) who were the parties to the indenture conveyance of 25th March, 1795, whereby the Severn Ferry franchise was transferred to the predecessor of the present Duke of Beaufort;
(2) what investigation he has made into the circumstances whereby a franchise was believed to have been granted to the predecessor of the Duke of Beaufort, which, in part, forms the basis of the payment of compensation as envisaged in the Severn Bridge Tolls Bill; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Tom FraserThe history of the ferry franchises was given at a public inquiry in 1946 into the draft of the Order which fixed the line of the Severn Bridge and its approach roads. No information was given then, or has been given to me since, about the parties to the indenture conveyance of 1795. Further investigation into this would not be relevant at present. The Severn Bridge Tolls Bill includes a provision that I must be satisfied as to certain matters concerning the ownership of, and interest in, the franchise if I am to entertain an application for its extinguishment. There is no occasion for me to consider these matters unless or until such an application is made under the provisions of the Bill if enacted.