§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he proposes to initiate any hearings in Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and other locations in South Wales on the proposals to raise Severn bridge tolls; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe inquiry will be held at Thornbury, near Bristol. If the inspector is satisfied that there are objectors who cannot get to Thornbury, and providing a suitable venue can be found, the hearing may continue in south Wales for a limited period.
§ Mr. AspinwallTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the value of the opening tolls on the Severn bridge in current prices.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyIn 1966 the tolls charged for all types of vehicle crossing the Severn bridge was 2/6d (12½p). The equivalent, at current prices, is 90p.
§ Mr. AspinwallTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what levels the debt at the Severn bridge will reach if(a) there is no increase in tolls or (b) the current proposal to increase tolls to £1 for cars and £2 for lorries is implemented.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyIf tolls are not increased, our forecasts show that debt would rise indefinitely, so that at the end of the toll period in 2006 it would have reached almost £400 million.
If the proposed tolls are introduced debt will reach a peak of £127 million in 1991, declining thereafter so that tolls would cease by 2006.
The latest figure for the Severn bridge debt is £85.5 million.
§ Mr. SternTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will place in the Library copies of his Department's statement of case for increasing the tolls on the Severn bridge.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyI am placing copies in the Library today.