THE ON-GOING and long-running debate between Cardiff Bay and Westminster about what happens to responsibility for the Severn bridges once they come back into government control raises some interesting issues.

First Minister Carwyn Jones, on a visit to Newport yesterday, emphasised again his desire to see control of the bridges, and of course the tolls, handed to the Welsh Assembly because of the critical role they play in the Welsh economy.

However, this is an argument not yet accepted by the UK government, which sees the bridges coming under the Department for Transport following the handover which could be in 2018.

This is something which will have to be sorted sooner rather than later given that we are now counting down to the day when the bridges will be handed over.

It will also have to be decided before there can be any real debate about what should happen to the tolls. It seems to us that there should be some shared control between Cardiff and Westminster as the bridges link England and Wales.

The First Minister is probably right in repeating his belief that any scheme to get rid of the tolls is a non-starter. But we hope his suggestion to reduce the tolls does become a real possibility, a welcome fillip for businesses, especially those hardest hit by this extra expense. It would also encourage investment this side of the river.