Edwina Hart, Minister for Economy, Science and Transport
This was published under the 2011 to 2016 administration of the Welsh Government
The issue of free flow tolls on the Severn Crossings was raised in Plenary on 24 June
during the Business Statement.
The Wales Freight Task & Finish Group has submitted its report to me and I have accepted all of the recommendations that fall to my portfolio. The Minister for Housing and Regeneration has also accepted the recommendations that fall to his portfolio. A copy of the report can be found online.
We are working through and implementing the recommendations and I shall give a general update later this year.
One of the recommendations was that the Welsh Government requests the UK Government to look at the case for installing free flow tolling technology on the Severn Crossings if the UK Government decides not to remove the tolls when the current Concession ends.
I have written to the Secretary of State asking him to look at the case.
A key factor in considering the installation of free flow technology would be to ensure that tolls were not increased in order to finance it, and I have highlighted this in my letter.