§ 25. Mr. FabricantTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current position regarding the development of toll roads funded by the private sector.
§ Mr. KeyThe new Dartford-Thurrock river crossing was completed in October 1991, and work has begun on the second Severn crossing. Draft orders for the Birmingham northern relief road were published in June this year; the public inquiry is expected to start next spring. We shall be considering further the possibility of involving private finance in the planned Birmingham western orbital route after we have announced our conclusions on the possibility of direct charging for existing motorways in the light of responses to the Green Paper "Paying for Better Motorways".