§ 61. Mr. CranTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is prepared to write off part of the accumulated capital debt of the Humber bridge; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyI had a meeting recently with representatives of the Humber Bridge Board. They recognised the need to increase revenue by raising tolls, which are now less in real terms than when the bridge opened in 1981. I undertook to consider the board's proposals urgently. Subject to that consideration, the Government would be prepared to write off so much of the debt as could not be recovered by tolls at a realistic level.