§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the bridges and tunnels constructed over the past 20 years for which tolls are charged; the capital cost of each at the time of construction; the capital repayments to date; the interest payments made to date; and the toll charges levied at each crossing.
§ Mr. SpeedThe immediate highways responsibilities of my right hon. and learned Friend relate to trunk roads; information available to us on non-trunk roads is more limited. The following table therefore shows the broad position at 31st March 1973 in respect of bridges and tunnels on trunk and principal roads constructed in England over the past 20 years for which tolls are charged. I have no knowledge of any other toll bridge or tunnel constructed in this period.
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REPAYABLE FROM TOLLS £ million Crossing Construction Cost Grants and Contributions Balance of Construction Cost Capitalised Interest Capital Repaid Interest Paid Toll Charges Severn Bridge 12.8 — 12.8 1.7 0.7 5.6 Cars and Lorries 12p Motor Cycles 5p Dartford Tunnel 11.4 3.1 8.3 1.6 3.0 4.9 Vehicles not exceeding 30 cwt. 12½p Vehicles exceeding 30 cwt. 20–30p Motor Cycles 5p Cycles 2½P Tyne Tunnel 14.7 5.1 9.6 3.3 — 1.4 Cars 12½p Heavy Goods Vehicles 20p Motor Cycles 5p 2nd Mersey Tunnel (1st Tube) 25.3 — 25.3 2.1 0.4 7.2 Vehicles not exceeding 2 tons unladen 15p Vehicles 2–5 tons unladen 40p Vehicles exceeding 5 tons including Public Service Vehicles 50p Vehicles not exceeding 2 tons and Trailer 30p Vehicles exceeding 2 tons and Trailer £1 Motor Cycles 5p Tamar Bridge 2.9 — 2.9 0.1 0.9 1.2 Cars 10p Heavy Goods Vehicles 25–45p Coaches 45p Motor Cycles 2½P Cycles 1p