§ Mr. ThorntonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is in a position to respond to Merseytravel's case for Government financial assistance for the Mersey tunnels.
§ Mr. AtkinsMy right hon. Friend has today written to Councillor Ingham of Merseytravel to say that we have considered very carefully the case presented for Government financial assistance for the Mersey tunnels. In that letter, he explained that the merits of the case did not justify Government assistance. Indeed, our examination of the case suggests that the tunnels could become financially self-supporting in a few years' time.