Mr. Alan WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assumptions about toll rate and its rate of increase underlay the oral statement by the Minister of State on 14 January,Official Report, column 644, that current forecasts indicated that tolling for concessionaires for the second Seven bridge would not be necessary for more than 21 or 22 years; and what were the underlying assumptions about future traffic growth;
(2) by what date at the rate currently envisaged for 1992 under the current assumptions indicated in the oral statement by the Minister of State, Official Report, 14 January, column 644, payment for the Severn bridge will be completed; and what the annual toll income would be in the final year at constant prices;
(3) on the basis of current assumptions about traffic growth on the second Severn bridge and toll levels for 1992 indicated in the oral statement by the Minister of State on 14 January, Official Report, column 644, what at constant prices is the forecast annual income from tolls for each year from 1992 until the bridge is paid for.
§ Mr. ChopeThe forecast that the concessionaire's actual tolling period for the Severn bridges would be 21 or 22 years, within the 30 year maximum allowed, was based on the toll levels set out in the Severn Bridges Bill, indexed for inflation in accordance with the provisions of the Bill. The forecast was based on the concessionaire's assumptions about future traffic growth, which were approximately as follows:
Per cent. Per annum 1992–1995 2.7 1996–2000 2.4 2001–2005 2.2 2006–2010 2.0 2011–2013 1.8
Mr. Alan WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how the costs of operating the Severn bridge, excluding costs arising from original design faults, have moved relative to the retail prices index since the bridge was opened;
(2) if he will give a breakdown of the costs, excluding those arising from original design faults, of operating the Severn bridge in the last year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. ChopeThe total cost of operating the Severn bridge in 1967–68, the first full year, was 1.032 million or 0.071 million at 1988–89 prices. This compares with a 3W total cost of £12.753 million in 1988–89, the last full year for which figures are available. A breakdown of the figures is published in the Severn bridge accounts. The figures include the costs of toll collection, servicing debts, strengthening work to allow for vehicular loadings into the next century, and maintenance to make good general wear and tear normal for a structure of this size and age. The original design complied fully with the requirements of that time.