A TRANSPORT minister said he did not know whether Severn crossing users would immediately see the benefit when VAT is removed from tolls.

But the minister, Andrew Jones (Con, Harrogate) told Parliament’s Welsh Affairs select committee that tolls would not be ‘milked’.

The bridges will revert to public ownership when current owners, Severn River Crossing, have made just over £1 billion – at 1989 prices – as agreed by Parliament in 1992 and the crossings will no longer be liable for VAT.

Monmouth MP and Welsh Affairs select committee chair David Davies asked: “Will VAT be removed on the day that revenue is achieved?”

Mr Jones said he did not know but would come back to Mr Davies with an answer.

Mr Davies asked his Tory colleague whether charges “should reflect the annual maintenance cost and should not be set to make a profit for the government.”

Mr Jones replied: “We are looking to set tolls to recover costs and that cost could include free-flow tolling which is an expensive system and the intention is to build up some extra cash if we need it but it is not a profit-making exercise.

“We are looking to make sure we have a functioning, well-maintained critical pair of crossings that are fit for the future to fulfil their economic purpose, that are operated in away that enables the maximum free flow of vehicles with the least inconvenience and they are not a cash system to fund a scheme somewhere else.”

He also made it clear that would include a third Severn Bridge.

The handover is expected to take place by spring 2018 but Mr Jones said that was ‘a moving target’ because there had been increased use of the bridge which brought the revenue target forward.

He said the government wanted a handover plan in place by the autumn to give users and staff the greatest possible notice of any changes.