§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the repayment of debt on the Dartford tunnel and the consequent abolition of the tolls.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe tunnel is the responsibility of the Kent and Essex county councils. I understand that the councils estimate that tunnel debts will be repaid during the financial year 1993–4. However, the Dartford Tunnel Act 1984, which repeats earlier legislation, also requires maintenance and reserve funds to be established before tolls can cease. The councils' most recent estimate is that those funds will be established during the financial year 1996–97. The estimates are obviously sensitive to the actual level of traffic growth over the next 10 years.
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Transport when formal plans for a third Dartford tunnel will be drawn up.
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§ Mrs. ChalkerI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Epping Forest (Sir J. Biggs-Davison) on 3 December at column34.
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report the design capacity of the Dartford tunnel in terms of vehicle usage per hour.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI shall answer this question shortly.