§ SIR ROBERT H. INGLISsaid, he had given both public and private notice of his intention to put a question to Her Majesty's First Commissioner of Works, in respect to Westminster Bridge, and he hoped that he might be permitted to preface the interrogatory by a few words of explanation. It was probably in the remembrance of the House, that six years ago the state of Westminster Bridge was deemed to be so alarming, that a Committee was appointed to make inquiries respecting it, and to report to that House. They did so, and reported that the bridge was in such a condition that it would be 476 necessary to pull it down and rebuild it. Another Committee was appointed four years ago, and came to the same conclusion. In the year 1851 a Commission was issued to make inquiries on the same subject, and they also arrived at a similar conclusion. Her Majesty's late Advisers, in conformity with all these recommendations, prepared a Bill for the purpose of transferring to the department of Works the property of the Westminster Bridge Commissioners, and recommended that a Bill to authorise the construction of a new-bridge should be introduced with as little delay as possible. Such a Bill was accordingly prepared: all the necessary legal notices had been given, and there was no reason to doubt that had the late Government continued in office the measure would have been introduced before now. It was certainly the intention of the late Government to have introduced the Bill; and he wished now to be informed by his noble Friend (Lord J. Manners) under what circumstances, and by what advice, had any postponement of the execution of such an intention taken place? The bridge was no better now than it was when the recommendation alluded to was made, and the opinions of eminent engineers remained the same.
§ LORD JOHN MANNERSsaid, that, on his accession to office, he had thought it right that additional inquiries should be instituted with regard to the actual necessity of bringing in a measure, in the course of the present Session, for the rebuilding of Westminster Bridge. The probable expense of erecting a new bridge was a matter that caused considerable difficulty to the Government; and, taking into consideration the silence of the Report of the Commissioners on this important point, they had determined to do nothing in the business, except with deliberation and caution. Additional inquiries bad accordingly been instituted, and the result of those inquiries was the decision—concurred in by Mr. Walker—that there was no necessity to take any step in the matter during the present Session of Parliament.
§ SIR ROBERT H. INGLISsaid, that although there was no specification in the Report of the cost of erecting a new bridge, there were the fullest particulars on the subject in the appendix.
LORD SEYMOURwished to know whether there would be any objection to lay upon the table Mr. Walker's letter as to the stability of the bridge?
§ LORD JOHN MANNERSsaid, there would be no objection to lay upon the table Mr. Walker's letter relative to the stability of the present bridge.