HC Deb 06 March 1990 vol 168 c565W
Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning the building of roads and the imposition of tolls by private companies.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

The Government wish to encourage greater private sector involvment in the provision of roads. The Green Paper "New Roads by New Means—Bringing in Private Finance" published in May 1989 set out our ideas. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport will be publishing our response to the consultation shortly. Tolling is envisaged as the principal source of revenue for privately financed roads but in general road users will continue to have a choice between tolled privately financed roads and other roads. Where there is a monopoly, such as an estuarial crossing, the Goverment will impose some form of control on the level of the toll to be charged.