William Graham (Conservative AM for South Wales East) questioned First Minister Rhodri Morgan on the toll charges for the Severn Bridges.

In January the tolls for making a crossing increased to £5.40 for a cars and vehicles up to 9 seats, £10.90 for small buses/vans and £16.30 for busses and vehicles over 3,500kg. Severn Bridge M48 opened in 1966, cost £8m to construct; the Second Severn Crossing M4 opened in 1996, cost £300m to construct. Since 1996 over £700m has been collected in tolls.

"The collection and setting of tolls is specified by the Severn Bridges Act 1992, which determines that the Severn River Crossing (SRC) Concession will collect tolls until it has received a pre-determined amount of Tolling Revenue". 

"It is currently forecast that this will be reached in 2016, although fluctuations in traffic volumes may affect this date". 

"When this per-determined amount has been reached, the SRC will not have powers to collect tolls. All decisions concerning the collection of tolls for these bridges after that date will be a matter for the Secretary of State for Transport".

"I was concerned that the First Minister was not able to indicate a major cut in the level of tolls after this date; although I acknowledge the possibility of the tolls then being used to fund the construction of the M4 Relief Road".