§ Mr. Roy HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that those vans which are of the nature of saloon or estate cars in shape are classified as in category 1 for toll purposes under the Severn Bridges Act 1992.
§ Mr. Kenneth Carlisle[holding answer 6 July 1992]: No. Car-based vans fall within the description of small goods vehicles for tolling purposes, and thus fall in toll category 2.
105W
§ Mr. Roy HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the amount of traffic now taking the northern route for the journey into Wales following the changes in the system of collecting tolls on the Severn bridge;
(2) what change there has been in the amount of road accidents as a result of traffic taking the northern route into Wales following the changes in the system of collecting tolls on the Severn bridge;
(3) what assessment he has made of environmental damage to villages in Gloucester as a result of traffic taking the northern route into Wales following the changes in the system of collecting tolls on the Severn bridge.
§ Mr. Kenneth Carlisle[holding answer 6 July 1992]: No assessment has been made of the effects of traffic diversion from the Severn bridge as result of the recent toll changes. There was a reduction in westbound traffic flows on the bridge immediately after the introduction of the new tolls. There is already some evidence to show that some drivers who may have diverted initially are now reverting to using the bridge.