§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what will be the total cost of the penalties that the Government will impose on the Merseyside passenger transport authority for the operation of the Mersey ferries and tunnels in 1988–89; and what is the projected accumulation of penalties over the next 10 years.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe precept limit of 27p recently set for Merseyside passenger transport authority for 1988–89 takes into account the need for expenditure on the Mersey ferries and tunnels in that year. The limit is 1.49p lower than that for 1987–88. For spending at its revised expenditure level (EL), Merseyside PTA would have a grant entitlement for 1988–89 of £19.8 million, — significantly higher than for 1987–88.
It is not possible to apportion grant entitlement between particular services, nor is it possible to project future years' grant entitlement.