asked the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the approximate amount spent since his announcement of 7 February 1984 that £33 million would be spent on strengthening the Severn bridge.

About £2 million has been spent on the preparation of design and associated research and development work. Tenders for preliminary work, worth about £1·4 million, have already been invited and further tenders will be invited later this year for other major strengthening works worth £18 million. This will be followed by further contracts in 1986 and 1987.