§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what representations he has so far received about the proposal to double the Dartford Tunnel tolls; and what reply he has given;
(2) whether he will order a local public inquiry into the proposal of the Kent and Essex County Councils to double the Dartford Tunnel tolls;
(3) whether he has made any estimate of the volume of additional traffic likely to use other Thames crossings as a consequence of a doubling of the Dartford 20W Tunnel tolls; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CarmichaelMy right hon. Friend has received 161 letters of objection, including 10 from local authorities, and 11 petitions signed in all by 2,950 people. Objectors have been told that a public local inquiry has been arranged for Tuesday 7th October. The extent of any diversion to other routes is a factor which will, no doubt, emerge during this inquiry.
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many vehicles used the Dartford Tunnel in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. CarmichaelThe information is as follows:
1970 … … … 8,400,851 1971 … … … 8,862,226 1972 … … … 9,548,413 1973 … … … 10,100,000 1974 … … … 9,908,923