§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how the volume of traffic using the Tay road bridge has been affected since the opening of the Friarton bridge ; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RifkindQuarterly figures of vehicle crossings of the Tay road bridge in 1977, 1978, 1979 and the first quarter of 1980 are shown below. The reduction in traffic in 1979 is broadly in line with national traffic trends and so no conclusion can be drawn from the figures as to any effect the Friarton bridge may have had.
TAY ROAD BRIDGE Vehicle numbers Percentage change* 1977— 1st quarter 1,007,323 —1.4 2nd quarter 1,227,613 0.0 3rd quarter 1,361,942 + 1.0 4th quarter 1,189,187 + 7.2 Annual 4,786,065 + 1.7 1978— 1st quarter 1,063,861 + 5.6 2nd quarter 1,331,903 + 8.5 3rd quarter 1,446,860 + 6.2 4th quarter 1,197,275 +0.7 Annual 5,039,899 + 5.3 1979— 1st quarter 1,046,029 —1.7 2nd quarter 1,316,601 —1.1 3rd quarter —1,390,790 —3.9 4th quarter 1,240,619 + 3.6 Annual 4,994,039 —0.9 1980— 1st quarter 1,113,230 +6.4 * Percentage change on same quarter of previous year or in previous year's total.