Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what modelling the Government has conducted on the potential effect on traffic on nearby roads of the removal of the Severn Bridge tolls.

Prior to the Severn Crossings consultation in 2017 the Government undertook modelling to assess the impact of the policy to continue tolling at a reduced rate, and on the possible option of free-flow tolling. The modelling used a version of the M4-CAN traffic model extended to take account of the impact of changes in tolls on both the South West of England and Wales and included estimates of wider economic impacts consistent with DfT Transport Appraisal Guidance.

The Government announced on 21 July 2017 that it was removing tolls by the end of 2018. No further modelling was undertaken by the Department for Transport on this specific option.