Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of funding the restoration and reopening of Hammersmith Bridge as part of the forthcoming Spring Statement.

The repair and reopening of Hammersmith bridge to all users, including motor vehicles, remains a government priority. The fourth extraordinary funding settlement reaffirms this position.

We have this week announced a multi-million-pound funding package for vital restoration works to Hammersmith Bridge, confirming we will fund one third of the costs to stabilise the structure. Almost £3 million will be injected into the project by the Government, so that it remains permanently open to pedestrians, cyclists and river traffic. This comes ahead of further strengthening works to open it up to motorists, and takes total Government funding for the bridge’s restoration to nearly £7 million.