asked the Secretary of State for Transport when the repairs and maintenance work on the Severn bridge will be completed; what is the total cost to date; and what is the current total estimated cost when the work is concluded.

Since the bridge was opened £10·3 million has been spent on maintenance and repair. As my hon. Friend told the House on 7 February 1984, at columns 763–64, the programme for strengthening is expected to take five to six years and to cost about £33 million.