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Written question asked by Emma Hardy (Labour) on Thursday, 2 November 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 6 November 2017. It was answered by Jesse Norman (Conservative) on Wednesday, 8 November 2017 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Humber Bridge: Tolls

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to (a) reduce and (b) abolish fees for customers on the Humber Bridge; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

The tolls on the Humber Bridge were introduced to help pay for the costs of constructing the Bridge, which opened in 1981. Construction was financed through a loan from the Government of the day.

In 2012, the present Government wrote off £150m of the £332m debt In order to reduce tolls and encourage use of the Bridge. Since then, the number of vehicles using the Bridge has increased significantly.

In 2015, the Humber Bridge Board refinanced the remaining debt of £172m with a Public Works Board Loan. The Government has not made an estimate of the costs of abolishing tolls on the Humber Bridge, since the operation and financing of the remaining debt of the Humber Bridge is the responsibility for the Board and its constituent authorities.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
111238
Session
2017-19
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Humber bridge Tolls
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk