To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest figure he has as to the level of debt being carried by the Humber Bridge Board.

It is estimated that at 31 March this year the debt of the Humber Bridge Board will amount to approximately £410 million.

The Government have already accepted that the Humber bridge is a special case for the purposes of partial debt write-off. When will the negotiations with the Treasury be completed and when does the Minister expect to make an announcement about the write-off? I am sure that he agrees that the matter is causing enormous uncertainty and has dragged on for far too long.

I share my hon. Friend's concern about the delay. I assure him that everything possible is being done to ensure that a decision can be made as quickly as possible.