§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Minister of Transport if he will list the toll bridges on major trunk roads; and indicate for each year since their opening what profit or loss they have recorded when both running costs and capital charges are included in the calculation.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe only toll bridges in England on or forming part of a major trunk route are those across the Tamar and the Severn. Trunk roads in Scotland and Wales are the responsibility respectively of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales.
The figures requested for each bridge are as follows:
Severn Surplus +/ Deficit — Tamar Surplus +/ Deficit — £ £ 1961–62 … —7,957 1962–63 … +75,807 1963–64 … +91,076 1964–65 … +77,801 1965–66 … +22,775 1966–67 … —269,050 +43,021 1967–68 … —376,056 +59,517 1968–69 … —378,559 +8,134 1969–70 … —385,039 +9,883 1970–71 … —386,352 +31,359 1971–72 … —408,264 +53,503 1972–73 … —211,612 +81,840 1973–74 … —382,575 +29,009 1974–75 … —602 628 —37,411 1975–76 … —1,123,207 +174,761 1976–77 … —1,431,702 +180,991 1977–78 … —1,923,093 +62,419 1978–79 … Not yet available +46,780 We hope to announce very shortly our decision on the proposal to raise tolls on the Severn bridge.