§ Mr. Welshasked the Secretary of State for the Environment which bridges in England and Wales are subject to (a) 139W local authority rates and (b) rates and public tolls; and what is the Government's policy in these matters.
§ Mr. MarksBridges are rateable only if they are tolled and then only if there is no public right of way over them and they are not specifically exempted. There are no plans to change this situation. None of the four publicly owned toll bridges in England, the Severn, Tamar, Sandwich and Middlesbrough Transporter Bridges is rated.
There are 12 other toll bridges in private hands.
Bridges in Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.