§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer on 21 June to the hon. Member for Kingswood (Mr. Aspinwall) with regard to the Severn bridge, if he will give an estimate of the cost of strengthening to enable the bridge to cope with the highest existing traffic loadings as opposed to the further strengthening needed in the longer term; and if these immediate measures will be adequate to cope with any increase in maximum lorry weight currently being considered by the Government.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe replacement of the hangers and the strengthening of the splay saddles is estimated to cost approximately £185,000 in the current financial year. Other costs will be incurred but it is too soon for them to be estimated. An increase in lorry weights would not require any variation of the immediate measures described by my right hon. Friend.