§ Mr. RaynsfordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the benefit-cost ratio for the proposed extension of the docklands light railway to Lewisham(a) with a toll for the river crossing and (b) without a toll, indicating in each case (i) the total annual cost, including capital cost of construction, rolling stock costs, equivalent annual capital cost and annual operating costs and (ii) the total benefit including time savings, overcrowding relief, total public transport users' benefit and additional rail revenue.
§ Mr. BaldryProvisional indications are that the project to build the Lewisham extension of the docklands light390W railway will be financially viable only with a revenue-maximising cross-river toll and with capital costs constrained to a figure around £100 million. In 1993 the benefit:cost ratio of the project on this basis was estimated to be 3.5:1. The forecast benefits included passenger time savings of £220 million and non-user benefits of £54 million. No similar analysis has been carried out for theoretical, non-financially viable, options.