HC Deb 19 November 1969 vol 791 cc305-6W
Mrs. Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in what respects different local circumstances were taken into account in the case of the arrangements for financing the Forth Road Bridge and the Severn Road Bridge.

Mr. Ross

The main differences were that the Forth Bridge was built by a joint board of local authorities and the Severn Bridge, like the Erskine Bridge, by the Government; and that substantial lengths of approach roads were an integral part of the Forth Bridge scheme. These differences resulted in the Government making an outright grant towards the cost of the Forth Bridge, including the approach roads, whereas for the Severn Bridge the whole cost is to be recovered through tolls.