Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2026 to Question 19486 on the Lower Thames Crossing, what working assumptions her Department is using for the level of charges required to cover the economic and efficient costs of service provision, including a fair return on investment for the private sector.

The department is working to secure the best deal for users and taxpayers under the Regulated Asset Base model. Further analysis and development is required before charges can be set. The assumptions include, but are not limited to, forecasted traffic volumes, operational costs and financing costs. An independent regulator will be in place to protect user interests, ensuring the toll regime is fair and transparent and that drivers are protected from being overcharged.